adminBRUSSELS. – A high-profile footballer has been suspended indefinitely by his club after he was caught smoking on the bench just before his team’s match on the weekend kicked off.
Belgian club Royal Antwerp have confirmed that they have expelled Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan indefinitely for his recent conduct.
Ahead of the club’s league clash with Standard Liege on Sunday, the 34-year-old was caught on camera smoking an e-cigarette on the bench before the match got underway.
“The club had a conversation with Radja Nainggolan about his general behaviour and how this affects the club and the team,” a statement on Antwerp’s official website read.
“The club has decided to expel Radja from team A indefinitely. “Neither the player nor the club will make any further comments on this.”
While the former Inter Milan and AS Roma playmaker did not start the match, he was brought on at half-time despite his earlier conduct in the dugout.
Antwerp lost the game 3-0, although Nainggolan only entered the match after all three goals had been scored.
According to the Daily Mirror, this is not the player’s first offence in recent times as he was also recently stopped by Belgian police for driving without a licence, and while his club did not comment publicly on that particular infringement, it is understood they were furious about that infraction.
The player has a track record of disciplinary issues – in 2018, he was temporarily banned by Inter from all football activity at the club for bad conduct, per Sky Sports.
Earlier that year, Nainggolan was also dropped by then-club Roma for posting a video on Instagram of himself drinking and smoking at a New Year’s Eve party.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter