Newcastle United star Joelinton has been fined £29,000 and banned from driving for a year after failing a drink-drive breath test.
The 26-year-old midfielder was stopped by the police in his Mercedes G Wagon in Newcastle.
The Brazilian player gave a breath test which showed a reading of 43 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of breath.
The legal limit is 35 mg.
District Judge Paul Currer, sitting at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, fined him £29,000 and banned him from driving for 12 months.
However, that could be reduced to nine months if the footballer completes a rehabilitation course.
The judge calculated the fine based on documents showing his weekly wage was £43,000.
The player must also pay a £2,000 surcharge and £85 costs.
Jonathan Stirland, prosecuting, said police officers spotted his car driving at speed near the Magpie’s St James’ ground.
They asked the driver to pull over.
Joelinton – who was “compliant” throughout – admitted he had drunk two glasses of wine earlier in the evening.
His roadside breath test recoded 50 mg per 100 ml which reduced to 43 mg in one of two later tests at Forth Banks police station, the court heard.
Geoffrey Forrester, defending, said:
“He will be subject of disciplinary proceedings within the club once this process has concluded.”
District Judge Currer said he considered Joelinton’s early guilty plea and compliance with officers, and he was convinced of the footballer’s remorse.
But he warned Joelinton that drink driving was a serious offence.
He told the player:
“What is clear to me is you accept you have made a grave mistake and a significant error of judgment.
“You placed yourself in real jeopardy and it could have had disastrous consequences for the lives of others.
“I sincerely hope you have learned from this mistake, and we don’t see you in this court again.”
His court appearance came less than 48 hours after he scored the only goal in the Magpies’ 1-0 over Southampton in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
