SOZ I WAS SOZZLED!

Football ace Yaya’s drink drive shame

MANCHESTER City star Yaya Toure has apologised to fans after admitting drink-driving – but the Muslim footballer still insisted he had “not intentionally consumed alcohol”.

The Ivory Coast midfielder, 33, was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £54,000 by Barkingside magistrates on Monday.

Toure was driving in Dagenham, east London, at the time of the offence last month.

The £200,000-a-week former Barcelona star, who joined City for £24million in 2010, said that while he had not contested the charge, he had not deliberately consumed alcohol.

In a statement released on his website he said: “I have always BAN AND BIG FINE: Toure refused alcohol. Anyone who knows me or follows football will have seen me refuse champagne for man-of-thematch performances because of my commitment to my religion.

“As I was above the permitted limit when tested on the night, I decided not to challenge the charge.

“However, it was important to me that I told the court that I had not intentionally consumed alcohol.

“The judge in his sentencing remarks accepted that I had not been intentionally drinking.

“Drink driving is a serious crime. Even though I was not intentionally consuming alcohol I accept the ban and fine and I would like to apologise.”

Toure’s statement did not explain how or where he had unintentionally consumed alcohol.