On a quiet summer night in Monaco, what should have been an ordinary drive through the streets of the Principality turned into a legal nightmare for Dutch footballer Memphis Depay. The former Atlético Madrid and Olympique Lyonnais striker, now playing for Brazilian club SC Corinthians, was sentenced on Tuesday, February 4, by the Monaco Criminal Court for driving under the influence.
The incident took place in the early hours of August 6, 2024. At exactly 5:38 in the morning, Depay was behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce after a night out at two of Monaco’s elite nightclubs. According to the Monaco public prosecutor’s office, his “risky driving” quickly caught the attention of local police officers, who stopped him at Place d’Armes. What followed was a breathalyser test confirming their suspicions—Depay had an alcohol level of 1.01 mg/l of exhaled air, equivalent to over 2g of alcohol per litre of blood. A figure dangerously close to an alcohol-induced coma, as Monegasque magistrates often emphasise in such cases.
Brought into police custody, Depay reportedly admitted to his mistake and expressed remorse. However, when his case was brought before the Monaco Criminal Court this Tuesday, he was nowhere to be seen. Not only was the footballer absent from the hearing, but he had also failed to appoint a lawyer to represent him.
During the proceedings, deputy prosecutor Julien Pronier initially requested a one-month suspended prison sentence, a 2,000 euro fine, and a six-month driving ban within Monaco. However, the court, presided over by Florestan Bellinzona, ruled with a heavier hand. Depay was sentenced to a four-month suspended prison term, a 9,000 euro fine, and a two-year driving ban in the Principality.
While the footballer has continued his career in Brazil, the weight of this ruling lingers. Under Monaco’s judicial system, Depay has 15 days to appeal the decision. Whether he chooses to contest the sentence or accept the court’s ruling remains to be seen.
