Chelsea's Mikel banned for drink-driving

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel was banned from driving for 15 months after he admitted drink-driving.

The 22-year-old Nigerian was found to be almost twice the limit when he was stopped by police in his Range Rover in west London in January, the Press Association reported.

Mikel, who signed for Chelsea for 16 million pounds in 2006 from Lyn Oslo, was stopped at 5:15 a.m. in Fulham after he had watched his team play at Stamford Bridge.

He had drunk between four and five glasses of wine, the court heard.

The player, who lives in Surrey, was normally driven home by a friend, but on this occasion the friend was called away by his girlfriend.

"It was very unfortunate," his solicitor Neil Shestopal said.

"The intention was that my client would have been driven all the way, a regular arrangement, and this was a very unfortunate incident for which my client is deeply apologetic."

Mikel's solicitor said the international player would not do a drink driving course to shorten the ban because he "would just like to serve it out".

Mikel was also ordered to pay 1,580 pounds at West London Magistrates' Court.