West Brom's ‘Cab Four’ set to escape punishment from Spanish authorities
Albion’s infamous ‘Cab Four’ are unlikely to face any court action in Spain after the case was shelved by a magistrate.
Jonny Evans, Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill allegedly stole a taxi in Barcelona in the early hours of the morning while the driver was fetching them a McDonald’s order.
The four players were interviewed by the police a few hours later but are expected to escape punishment because there is not ‘sufficient evidence’ to continue with the case.
A local court official told the Daily Mail: “The investigating magistrate decided to provisionally archive the case because with the documentation he had, he felt there wasn’t sufficient evidence to continue with the case against the players.
“For the time being the case has been shelved although if new information appears it could be reopened.”
It is believed the taxi driver, who called police on the night in question, has decided against pressing charges.
Had the case been taken on and the players were found guilty, they could have been facing a fine or a community service order lasting between one and three months.
The four players have issued a joint statement publicly apologising for breaking curfew but have not admitted to taking the taxi.
Albion’s own internal investigation into the incident is now under way and is expected to last at least two weeks.
Members of the board will interview all four players, who will be accompanied by their representatives, to get a definitive version of events before deciding what punishment to dish out.
Evans has already been stripped of the captaincy by Alan Pardew, but the head coach will decide this week whether to give him back the armband or permanently remove it.
Pardew organised the short break to Barcelona before the Baggies made it through the FA Cup fourth round tie with Liverpool but the trip had to be cut short when Albion won at Anfield to set up a fifth-round clash with Southampton.
It was a social trip mainly designed to build team spirit, and the players trained for roughly three hours in total at Espanyol’s facilities.
Pardew, who had his wallet and phone stolen on the first night in Spain, was disappointed his players broke his 12am curfew on the second night.
