Former England forward Raheem Sterling has been charged with dangerous driving, possessing nitrous oxide, and failing to provide a specimen following a single-vehicle motorway crash on the M3. The 31-year-old is scheduled to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on September 15.
Motorway Collision and Police Charges on the M3
The charges stem from an early-morning incident on May 28, 2026, when a Lamborghini driven by Sterling collided with barriers on the M3 southbound near the Minley Interchange in Hampshire. According to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, motorists contacted emergency services before 9 a.m. after observing a vehicle swerving across motorway lanes.
Police arrested Sterling at the scene, and he was later released on bail pending further inquiries. Authorities confirmed the upcoming court appearance, stating that no other vehicles were involved in the crash and no injuries were reported from the scene.
“A driver will appear in court next month to face charges following a collision on the M3.”
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesperson, via BBC Sport
The formal charge sheet includes three specific counts: dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen. While police initially suspected the player of driving while unfit through drugs, that suspicion was excluded from the final charges filed against him.
Court Date Set at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court
Sterling, who resides in Berkshire, is due to face the three charges during a hearing at Basingstoke magistrates court on September 15. The legal proceedings arrive as the 31-year-old remains unattached to any professional club following the conclusion of his contract abroad.
The legal developments mark another difficult chapter for a player whose professional career spans over a decade at the highest levels of English and European club football.
Career Background and International Honors
Sterling came through the youth academy at QPR before making his senior breakthrough at Liverpool. In 2015, he transferred to Manchester City, where he secured four Premier League titles, five League Cups, and an FA Cup during a highly successful seven-year tenure.
He moved to Chelsea in 2022 in a transfer valued at £47.5m. After falling out of favor at Stamford Bridge, he spent the 2024–25 season on loan at Arsenal. Upon returning to Chelsea, he was excluded from the first-team squad and trained separately before leaving the club by mutual consent to join Dutch Eredivisie side Feyenoord on a short-term contract in February.
At the international level, Sterling earned 82 caps for England between 2012 and 2022, scoring 20 goals. He featured prominently under manager Gareth Southgate, helping the national team reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020.
Outside of athletics, Sterling was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to racial equality in sport, recognizing his vocal advocacy and campaigns against discrimination both on and off the pitch.
Читайте также
