Derby County sack captain Richard Keogh
31 October 2019, 08:45
Derby County has sacked team captain Richard Keogh "for gross misconduct" following an internal disciplinary hearing.
The move comes after Keogh suffered a knee injury in a car accident with Wales international Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett on September 24.
Lawrence and Bennett, who later admitted to drink-driving charges, were both fined the equivalent of six weeks' wages - the maximum contractual limit - by Derby.
Following the hearing, the club said: "As a result of that process, Mr Keogh has had his contract terminated with immediate effect for gross misconduct. He has the right of appeal within 14 days."
The club said they would 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.
The club said they would make no further comment until any appeal process has been exhausted.
Lawrence, 25, and Bennett, 23, appeared in court to answer charges of drink-driving on October 15.
The pair had initially fled from the scene of the crash - which happened after a team bonding day that finished in the Joiner's Arms pub in Derby - but returned about 45 minutes later and were arrested.
Both players admitted drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. They were ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work and were disqualified from driving for two years.
