At the wheel: Michael Ballack, in his car in
Munich, Germany (file pic), could lose his license after being
caught speeding on a Spanish motorway
Former Chelsea star Michael Ballack today tried to
swerve a hefty speeding fine by saying he is 'out of work' and
'doesn't have any money coming in'.
Ballack signed a £120,000-a-week deal with Chelsea in 2006
and had been earning over £80,000 a week with the Blues as recently
as 2010.
A lawyer for the ex-German captain, who ended his playing
career after being released by Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, said
he should only pay a tenth of the €10,000 (£8,000) fine being
threatened.
Spanish police busted the wealthy ex-Germany captain doing
131mph (211kmh) in his all-terrain Audi
U7 on the A-5 motorway in the west of the country, near the town of
Trujillo, on October 17.
He was allegedly driving 56mph
(91kmh) faster than the permitted 75mph
(120kmh) limit - and was caught by a
mobile speed camera.
A first court hearing, held the day after his arrest,
heard that he faced a two-year driving ban and a €10,000
fine.
But his lawyer Jesús Gallego Rol today asked the Caceres
court for a one-year ban and a €1,000 fine - because Ballack is not
currently earning any money and is out of work.
Heyday: Michael Ballack, then of Chelsea is fouled by
Kevin Prince Boateng of Portsmouth during the 2010 FA Cup Final
Back at the Bridge: Ballack returns to Chelsea with
Bayer Leverkusen last season
He said: 'Just because he is a famous footballer
doesn't mean he has any money coming in.'
He also pointed out that to drive at such speed in Germany
was not a crime.
The 36-year-old did not attend the hearing because the
alleged crime does not carry a prison sentence. The final sentence
is expected to be passed later today.
He began his professional career in 1995, winning the
first of four Bundesliga titles with Kaiserslautern in
1998.
He won three titles in four years with Bayern Munich
before moving to Chelsea, where he won the Premier League, the FA
Cup three times and the Carling Cup.
He spent the final two seasons of his career with
Leverkusen.
