STARS WERE WORSE FOR WEAR AS CAB ‘NICKED’ AT 5.30am

Spanish police quiz four stars who ‘stole’ taxi after booze-up

rightful owner at around 8am. All four players last night released a statement apologising for ‘ the events which have been the subject of widespread and negative publicity’ without going into details.

It continued: ‘We freely acknowledge and apologise for the break of curfew which we accept represented a breach of the standards of professionalism required of us as representatives of West Bromwich Albion.’

The club launched an internal investigation and it is expected all four will be fined two weeks’ wages for staying out far past the midnight curfew. The club believe any police action will be dealt with without the need for further travel. The incident increases the scrutiny on Alan Pardew (right), who organised the trip having overseen only one Premier League victory in 13 games.

It is understood Pardew planned the break before West Brom defeated Liverpool in the FA Cup but pressed ahead despite winning at Anfield to set up today’s tie with Southampton. A number of players are said to have held reservations in advance about going abroad with just four days in between games. The West Brom manager accepted he faces an uncertain future after chairman John Williams and chief executive Martin Goodman were sacked by owner Guochuan Lai on Tuesday.

That was the morning West Brom’s squad flew out to Barcelona for the mini-camp at Espanyol’s training complex. The team took a walk in the afternoon after landing, having lost 3-0 at Chelsea the previous night, before going through a session on Wednesday.

Pardew allowed his players to enjoy a team meal, with Kieran Gibbs, Craig Dawson, Gareth McAuley, Jake Livermore, Gareth Barry, Jonny Evans, Boaz Myhill, Chris Brunt and Grzegorz Krychowiak being photographed at a restaurant off La Rambla at around 9.30pm. It has surprised insiders that Evans, Barry, Livermore, and Myhill — all highly experienced players — then broke the midnight curfew and became engaged in the activities that have brought embarrassment. There were also allegations in Spain that Pardew returned to the hotel on Tuesday night having lost his phone and wallet following drinks. But it is understood Pardew’s jacket containing the items was stolen while he was in a restaurant. The players’ statement added: ‘We felt it important we identify ourselves as the players involved in an incident which occurred during the training camp in Spain this week out of respect for team-mates who otherwise could be implicated by association. ‘In the meantime, we would like to assure our supporters that this incident does not reflect the determination and resolve we possess to do all we can to recover a difficult season.’

Pardew, the former Newcastle, Crystal Palace and West Ham manager, said he was upset by the players’ actions.

‘We’ve gone there to get ourselves up for the run-in and this is obviously not ideal,’ he said. ‘They broke a curfew and that’s unacceptable and I feel a bit let down by that.’

But the manager defended his decision to take the break. ‘Burnley are away, Everton are away, Liverpool are away,’ he said. ‘We tried to get somewhere in a city where we

West Bromwich Albion’s season descended into farce as four senior players were accused of stealing a taxi to get back to their hotel on a boozy night out in Barcelona.

Police are investigating the incident that involved Jonny evans, Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill shortly before dawn on thursday.

It is claimed they took a taxi to McDonald’s in the Olympic Port area but then drove off while the driver was inside the restaurant, leaving the car outside their five-star hotel three miles away and going to bed.

A receptionist at the One, a boutique hotel, is said to have called police after noticing the abandoned vehicle.

Police arrived at the hotel, woke the players, and took them to the local station for questioning before releasing them. It is understood the players were not breathalysed as none were stopped at the wheel.

Despite the incident, the four players are likely to feature against southampton in the FA Cup fifth-round tie today.

A source in spain described the players as ‘looking worse for wear’ and said the taxi was taken at 5.30am on thursday before being returned to its