Michail Antonio Handed Six-Month Driving Ban After Lamborghini Court Case

Michail Antonio has been handed a six-month driving ban after being found guilty of failing to identify the driver of his Lamborghini following a motoring incident in London.

The 36-year-old Watford striker appeared before Uxbridge Magistrates' Court, where he maintained that he was not behind the wheel when the vehicle was involved in the incident.

Antonio told the court that he was in Manchester visiting his children at the time and had allowed his Lamborghini to be loaned out.

But magistrates ultimately ruled against him.

Antonio Said He Was 'In Shock'

Antonio told the court that he only became aware of the prosecution months after the incident.

The former West Ham striker said he was shocked when he discovered that he had been charged.

His defence was that he had not received the original police correspondence requesting information about who was driving the vehicle.

Antonio said the Lamborghini had been handed to Tarique Josephs, who operates a business that loans out cars, and that he believed the relevant information had subsequently been provided.

However, magistrates concluded that the police letter had arrived at Antonio's home and that he had failed to meet the legal requirement to provide the requested information.

The Lamborghini Incident

The case relates to Antonio's Lamborghini Urus, which was involved in a late-night incident on Pall Mall in London.

Police contacted Antonio as the registered keeper of the vehicle after it was suspected of being driven without due care and attention.

The Metropolitan Police sent a request for the driver's identity, but prosecutors said the required response was not received.

The court case was therefore focused on Antonio's failure to provide the driver's details, rather than establishing that he was personally driving the Lamborghini.

Antonio consistently maintained that he was not the driver.

Six-Month Ban Adds to Antonio's Problems

The verdict has significant consequences for Antonio because he already had six penalty points on his licence following a previous conviction for driving without insurance.

The latest offence brought another six points, triggering a driving disqualification under the UK's totting-up rules.

Antonio was fined £1,000, ordered to pay £650 in prosecution costs and received a £400 victim surcharge, taking the financial penalties to £2,050 in addition to the six-month ban.

Watford's New Signing Faces Another Distraction

The verdict comes only days after Antonio returned to English football by joining Watford on a one-year contract.

The veteran forward completed his move after a spell with Al-Sailiya in Qatar and a lengthy recovery from the serious road accident that disrupted his career.

Antonio spent more than half a year recovering after suffering a badly broken leg in the December 2024 crash before eventually returning to competitive football.

His move to Watford represented another opportunity to continue his career in England.

Now, however, the forward has another legal matter to deal with away from the pitch.

Another Motoring Case Still Remains

Antonio's legal issues are not completely over.

He is also due to face a separate trial concerning an alleged failure to respond to West Midlands Police over another Lamborghini-related speeding matter.

That case is separate from the London proceedings and should not be confused with the conviction handed down at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court.

For now, Antonio's six-month driving ban is the immediate consequence of Thursday's verdict.

The Watford striker can still focus on football, but his latest court appearance has added another unexpected chapter to an already eventful period in his life.

⚽ Fan Debate

⚽ Goal: Antonio has returned to English football with Watford after a difficult period away from the game.

🔥 Fire: The court ruling means the veteran striker will now serve a six-month driving ban.

😲 Shock: Antonio maintained that he was not driving the Lamborghini when the incident occurred.

👍 Like: His football career has continued despite the setbacks he has faced away from the pitch.

💬 Comment: Can Antonio put the off-field issues behind him and make a strong impact at Watford?