Manchester City defender Kyle Walker will not face criminal charges after being investigated by police over an alleged incident at a bar in Wilmslow earlier this month. While the police initially reported that they were making enquiries into “an indecent exposure”, the final statement published on Friday referred only to “an alleged incident”. An out of court disposal was applied, which is a mechanism “to deal with low-level crime and anti-social behaviour” according to the website of Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner. This is now considered a closed matter.
Despite being questioned by police on Thursday, the day that Gareth Southgate included him in his England squad for the upcoming matches against Italy and Ukraine, Walker remains on the team. The England manager defended the decision, even though a source told The Sun that the video footage of the alleged incident which appeared on social media was “deeply concerning”. Southgate stated that there was no conclusive reason to leave Walker out of the squad but emphasised that, should anything change, the situation would be reviewed.
Walker’s brush with the law is the latest in a run of controversies that have plagued Manchester City. In February, striker Sergio Agüero was criticised for placing his hand on the shoulder of assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis during a match. In the same month, the club was also fined for breaching regulations regarding signing minors. In August 2019, the club was similarly penalised for breaching football finance regulations, which prompted the team’s two-year suspension from the Champions League, later downgraded to a one-year ban.
Footballers’ off-pitch behaviour has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, as incidents such as Walker’s are shared widely on social media. Some have argued that the heightened focus on their off-pitch antics is unfair, and that players are entitled to private lives in the same way as anyone else. However, others note that footballers have a level of visibility and reach that is unique, and with that comes responsibility, particularly to young fans who look up to them as role models.
Manchester City’s reaction to the latest incident remains to be seen. However, the club is facing an uncertain future, as rumours continue to swirl around the departure of manager Pep Guardiola at the end of the season. Whoever takes over will have their work cut out in maintaining the team’s strong position in both domestic and international competitions, while also dealing with the off-pitch controversies that continue to surround the club.
