West Brom unnamed players quizzed by cops after allegedly stealing taxi on night out in Barcelona
The four footballers were accused of driving off from a McDonald's drive-through in a cab and leaving it abandoned outside their five-star Barcelona hotel
FOUR West Brom players were quizzed by cops after allegedly stealing a taxi to get back to their hotel following a night out.
Police were called after the footballers were said to have driven off in the cab from a McDonald’s drive-through and abandoned it outside their luxury five-star Spanish hotel before going up to their bedrooms.
A West Brom statement 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."
The four players - who have not been named - were hauled down to a local police station after being dragged out of bed at The One boutique hotel. Reports now claim no arrests have been made but the investigation continues.
The alleged incident happened just before dawn yesterday. It came after Alan Pardew had taken his struggling side on a three-day warm-weather training visit to Barcelona where they were preparing for tomorrow's FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Southampton.
Regional Mossos d’Esquadra police confirmed the incident today as the players flew home.
A source said: “It appears the players had headed to the Barcelona Olympic Port but found everything closed so late on which is normal for midweek.
“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.
“The receptionist at the hotel they were staying at phoned police when she saw the taxi had been left unattended outside.
“Around the same time Mossos received a call from the stranded taxi driver.
“The four players who had got back to their hotel in the cab were taken to a local police station.
“They weren’t formally arrested but they were identified as part of a police investigation into them. The taxi was taken about 5.30am on Thursday and returned to its rightful owner around 8am.”
The Baggies' hopes of beating the drop were hit again on Monday when they travelled to Stamford Bridge.
Despite a promising start against reigning champions Chelsea, they were thumped 3-0 to leave them stranded at the foot of the table and seven points from safety.
West Brom sacked manager Tony Pulis back in November after a run of ten matches without a win saw them slip to a point outside the drop zone.
They won their opening three games of the campaign before their form dramatically dipped.
The Welshman, who guided WBA to a 10th-place finish last season, was replaced by Pardew on November 29.
However, he has failed to revive the faltering Baggies and has won just one of his 13 matches in charge.
They face a crunch clash against Huddersfield in their next Premier League encounter in a fortnight.
Earlier this week West Brom sacked chairman John Williams due to their "poor results".
Chief executive Martin Goodman has also joined Williams in being placed on immediate gardening leave.
A statement read: "Chairman John Williams and Chief Executive Martin Goodman have been given notice of termination of their contracts and have been placed on garden leave with immediate effect.
"Following his recent appointment as a director of WBA Holdings, the Club's controlling company, Mark Jenkins is returning to be the football club's CEO.
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"These changes follow Albion's poor results this season which currently sees the club at the bottom of the Premier League."
A club spokesman added: "We would like to thank John and Martin for all their efforts since their appointments and wish them well for the future."
Jenkins, who was previously CEO of the football club for 14 years, ten of which were spent in the top-flight, said: "There is much to do but for now the focus must solely be on the remaining games of this season."