Nobby: Arrest was TV set-up

NOBBY SOLANO says he was set up by a television show when he was taken to a police station after allegedly breaking coronavirus lockdown rules by attending a party in his native Peru.

The former Newcastle star spoke to Sportsmail from his home in Lima after he made headlines for his televised ‘arrest’.

But Solano — the assistant manager of the Peru national team — said a tip-off to a notorious entertainment show sparked the scenes that have been relayed around the world. Police are shown attempting to scale the wall of a property before Solano appears and is led into a police car carrying his young son. Solano (left), 45, said: ‘It wasn’t a party, I went to my neighbour’s house for some lunch with my family. She only lives 50 yards from me. There were only six, seven people there. ‘It was safe for all of us and the kids were getting some exercise. But somebody heard the music and tried to be clever and told the TV programme. It’s about celebrities and, when you are in the public eye, I suppose this sort of thing can happen.

‘I was with my kids and said to the reporters, “Come on, guys”. The police then got involved and, of course, they had to do their job, but I wasn’t arrested. I went to the police station with my missus and kids and they took our details. We sorted it out and they let us go.’

Coronavirus has killed nine people in Peru and Solano said: ‘Our president did very well to shut the country down early.’