Soccer

World Cup winner with France in 2018 to go on trial for drunk driving

A French player who was part of the World Cup-winning team at Russia 2018 will besummoned to court on Wednesday after being arrested for drunk driving six months ago.

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March 10, 2023 01:12PM EDT

Life can be unpredictable sometimes. Nearly five years ago, Benjamin Pavard was tasting the ultimate glory with France at the2018 World Cupin Russia. Now, the Bayern Munich defender is making the headlines for the wrong reasons.

According to L’Equipe, the French right-back will go on trial at the Munich District Court on Wednesday after being arrested for drunk driving on August 4. With 1.4 g of alcohol in his blood, he was well above the limit.

The Munich public’s prosecutor’s office determined that a person driving with a blood alcohol level above 1.1 per thousand is considered “absolutely incapable” of driving. On Wednesday, Pavard will know the court’s decision.

What kind of penalty Benjamin Pavard could face

Pavard has already received a penalty order from the magistrates’ court, and he’ll get to know the final punishment during a public criminal trial in Munich next week.

As L’Equipe notes, the 26-year-old defender incursa fine equivalent to approximately two months of salary as well as a one-year driver’s license ban. Not long ago, Pavard said: “I made a mistake and I admitted it. Nobody is perfect, I learned from it.”

Martín O’donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of soccer, NFL, and NBA, with a specialty in real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Editor, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis.

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