MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 23:13:12| >> :600:231748:231748:

Derby fine Tom Lawrence, Mason Bennett six weeks' wages

Lawrence and Bennett also ordered to serve 80 hours of community serivice and rehabilitation following Rams' disciplinary hearing.

Derby have fined Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett the "equivalent of six weeks' wages" and condemned the pair for bringing the club into disrepute following the "alcohol-related incident" of September 24.

Midfielder Lawrence, 25, and forward Bennett, 23, were charged with drink-driving after a crash in Derby's Allestree area last week – a collision in which club captain Richard Keogh suffered a serious leg injury.

Following a disciplinary hearing into the incident, Derby have fined both players the "maximum contractual limit" and told them to serve an "additional 80 hours of community and rehabilitation", which includes a drink aware course.

A statement on the club's official website read: "The club will not tolerate any of its players or staff behaving in a manner which puts themselves, their colleagues, and members of the general public at risk of injury or worse, or which brings the club into disrepute.

"Both Lawrence and Bennett are therefore being fined the equivalent of six weeks' wages – the maximum contractual limit – and will serve an additional 80 hours of community and rehabilitation, which will include a drink aware course.

"The club will be making no further comment regards this matter."

Bennett and Lawrence will appear in court to answer charges of drink-driving on October 15.

Tom Lawrence is in the latest Wales squad despite his legal troubles
Tom Lawrence is in the latest Wales squad despite his legal troubles (Joe Giddens/PA)

Bennett added: "On the night of Tuesday, September 24, I made huge mistakes after consuming alcohol. What I did was wrong.

"Being a footballer and someone who young fans look up to I know the example I set is key. I am ashamed. At 23 I am old enough, and I was brought up, to know better.

"I understand that such actions have serious consequences. I take full responsibility for my actions and accept the punishment that the club has issued.

"I have to and will learn from these events and will strive to be a better person.

"There's no excuse for what I've done. I'm sorry to my family, my friends, the club, all Derby supporters and to the wider football community, I let you all down."

Both players were left out of the Derby squad who beat Birmingham last Saturday but Lawrence played all 90 minutes of Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Barnsley, with Bennett appearing from the bench late on.

Lawrence has been selected by Wales boss Ryan Giggs for international duty and his date at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court will come two days after a vital Euro 2020 qualifier against Croatia.

Their team-mate Keogh, meanwhile, could be out for more than a year. The PA news agency understands the 33-year-old defender has damaged his anterior cruciate ligament as well as other ligaments in his knee.

ID:374031: cacheID:374031:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6234:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Barnsley's Oakwell ground from January 2018
Read Next:
Barnsley fan dies after cardiac arrest at Derby game
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
OT
Vikings
30-27
Bears
FT
Lions
24-6
Colts
FT
Patriots
15-34
Dolphins
FT
Buccaneers
30-7
Giants
FT
Chiefs
30-27
Panthers
FT
Titans
32-27
Texans
FT
Cowboys
34-26
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!