Convicted Johnson facing jail
LONDON: English soccer player Adam Johnson, who was sacked by Premier League club Sunderland last month, was facing jail after being found guilty on Wednesday of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.
The 28-year-old winger, who has played 12 times for England, had admitted kissing and grooming the teenager at the beginning of his trial but had denied two more serious accusations of sexual activity.
A jury at Bradford Crown Court in northern England cleared him of one of these charges but convicted him of the other. He will be sentenced at a later date.
“In our football-obsessed region Adam Johnson had a responsibility as a professional footballer to be a role model, a role he did not fulfil,” Detective Inspector Aelfwynn Sampson told reporters outside court.
“He knew very early on in this case how old the victim was and continued to contact her and continued to be in contact with her and arrange to meet her.”
Sunderland sacked Johnson after he entered his guilty pleas but the club has been criticised for not taking action sooner. The club has said it had been acting on legal advice.
Sportswear firm Adidas also cancelled its boot contract with the midfielder after his guilty pleas.
Johnson joined Sunderland for £10 million (US$14.46 million) in 2012.
He had been a regular this season and scored in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool last month.