Southampton winger Fabrice Fernandes has escaped a prison sentence despite being found guilty of a drink-driving charge.
The Frenchman was fined £10,000 and banned from driving for two years. Fernandes must serve an 18-month community rehabilitation order.
Fernandes was over the legal drink-drive limit when stopped by the police after failing to stop at a number of traffic lights.
“Fabrice deeply regrets the incident and is utterly contrite about it,” his lawyer said outside the court.
“Southampton do not condone this type of conduct and they actually fined him the maximum amount of two weeks’ wages back in May of this year.
“Fabrice wishes to put the incident behind him and wants to resume a very promising football career.
“There is nothing further to say.”
