Footballer given 1 year prison sentence for driving offence
The footballer Yassine El Ghanassy has been sentence in his absence to one year in prison. Despite having been banned from driving the 28-year-old AA Gent and KV Oostende winger that now plays for the Saudi side Al-Raed was caught using his mobile phone while driving his Porsche in Ostend.
As well as a one-year prison sentence Yassine El Ghanassy was also given a one-year driving ban and fines totalling 8,400 euro. If the La Louvière (Hainaut)-born player wants his driving licence back he will first have to take his driving test again and pass medical and psychological tests.
The footballer can appeal against the sentence if he so wishes.
It was not Yassine El Ghanassy first offence. He had had around 15 previous convictions for motoring offences. His solicitors recently appealed against the confiscation of his Porsche. A ruling on is expected in mid-October.