A FORMER Manchester City star has been banned from driving and given community work after being caught behind the wheel while disqualified.
Leeds United player Ian Poveda was caught driving a Mercedes-Benz AMG A180 while banned in Manchester on April 14 of last year.
The 23-year-old appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
He was handed a six month driving ban and a community order for 140 hours of unpaid work.
Poveda was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge and court costs, but avoided a fine.
The young winger figured for Pep Guardiola’s first team just once.
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He joined the Whites on a permanent deal in 2020 and played for a number of clubs throughout his youth career including Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona.
The offence happened while Poveda was on loan with Blackburn Rovers and out injured.
Asked about his court appearance in September, manager Daniel Farke said: “I respect my players as being human beings and also mature, and they have a private life.
“Obviously I always prefer when in their private life everything’s okay, but like all human beings [have to be] also professional.
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“We all have sometimes our times when it’s also a bit tough for us due to private reasons or whatever and then we still have to keep going in our job.
“So again, it’s also like I asked him to be professional and to concentrate on the hard work.”
Poveda has made four appearances for the Championship side this season.
The Sun has contacted Leeds United for comment.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
