West Brom players under investigation after 'stealing Barcelona taxi'

Four West Brom players face punishment after allegedly stealing a taxi on a night out in Barcelona.

The Baggies players were on a mid-winter training camp in Spain when the footballers supposedly drove the taxi from a McDonald’s drive-through and abandoned it outside of their hotel, reports The Sun.

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In a statement, the Premier League club said: “The Club can confirm that four senior players were involved in an incident during this week’s mid-winter training trip to Spain.

“The Club has instigated its own investigation into the incident and the players will be subject to the full rigours of our internal disciplinary procedures.

“Until such time as that investigation has been completed, the Club will not be making any further comment.”

Jonny Evans, Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill have identified themselves as the players involved in the incident.

Releasing an apology on the club’s official website, they said it was important to do so “out of respect for team-mates who otherwise could be implicated by association”.

The statement added: “We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our team-mates, the head coach, the club and especially the supporters for the events which have been the subject of widespread and negative publicity.

“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 FC.

“The club has informed us that it will now conduct its own inquiry into the incident and we will co-operate fully.

“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.”

Manager Alan Pardew confirmed the players involved broke a curfew that had been imposed on them.

“It wasn’t what we wanted. We’ve gone there to try to get ourselves ready and up for the run-in and this is obviously not ideal,” he said.

“They broke the curfew and that’s unacceptable and I feel a bit let down by that. It was a curfew on that evening and it was broken and that’s all I’m going to comment.”

He added: “As much as you want information and stuff, the club is clear it wants to investigate it properly and I think that’s right. We just want to concentrate on the game now. Our fans will want to see us put on a performance.”

West Brom play Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

According to the tabloid, the incident involving the four players took place during a three-day trip to help the Baggies bounce back from three consecutive league defeats.

Alan Pardew’s men currently lie rock-bottom of the Premier League and face a serious battle to improve their survival hopes.

Regional police confirmed the incident, which took place before dawn on Thursday.

A Sun source told the paper: “They decided to take a taxi to a McDonald’s drive-through nearby and somehow and for some reason, left there in the cab but without the cab driver.”

Pardew refused to comment on reports the incident involved a taxi, and whether the players had spoken to police.