Arturo Vidal avoids jail as Chile star is charged with drink-driving after telling policeman: Handcuff me, but you’ll be sh****** on Chile!

Arturo Vidal arrived at San Bernardo court on Wednesday morning
He will have to appear monthly to the Chilean consulate in Milan
Vidal was in court after crashing his £230,000 Ferrari on Tuesday night
‘The driver was under the influence of alcohol,’ said police
Vidal was not badly injured, suffering a bruise to his neck
The Juventus star tweeted: ‘Luckily we are all well and calm’
The 28-year-old and his wife were returning from a casino on afternoon off
Vidal is top scorer in the Copa America with three goals for Chile so far

Published:
15:58 GMT, 17 June 2015

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Updated:
20:38 GMT, 17 June 2015

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Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal launched an astonishing verbal attack on the police officer that arrested him for drink-driving after crashing his Ferrari on Tuesday night.

The 28-year-old had his licence revoked after the Juventus star was found guilty in court on Wednesday of the charges.

Footage of the arrest has emerged in which Vidal reportedly shouts and swears at the officer as he is put in handcuffs. ‘You f***** up, sir,’ he is heard saying to the policeman.

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Arturo Vidal has had his licence temporarily revoked after being found guilty of drink-driving

The Chile star has been released by police but must report to the Chilean consulate in Milan each month

Vidal was accompanied by his agent Fernando Felicevich as he awaited the verdict of his charges

Vidal’s brother Sandrino (right) waits in court for his sibling’s hearing verdict on Wednesday

Devoted Chile fans show their support for Vidal outside San Bernardo court as he awaits his court verdict

Scores of supporters lined the streets outside the court as the judge delivered his verdict on Wednesday

Vidal’s red Ferrari after his crash on a highway south of Santiago on Tuesday night

‘Handcuff me, but you will be sh****** on the whole of Chile,’ Vidal added. ‘Don’t make things any harder,’ the officer responds. ‘How did I f*** it up? Stop talking nonsense.’

Vidal, the leading scorer at the Copa America, avoided a jail sentence but must report monthly to the Chilean consulate in Milan under the terms of his release while investigations go on for 120 days.

The Champions League finalist recorded 1.2g of alcohol per litre of blood when tested by police. In Chile such a high level of blood alcohol is deemed a ‘state of drunkenness’ rather than just ‘under the influence’.

The midfielder was accompanied by his agent Fernando Felicevich as he awaited the verdict of his charges on Wednesday at San Bernando court, located near the country’s capital Santiago.

A teary-eyed Vidal faces the media on Wednesday after he was charged with drink-driving

Vidal apologised for putting his wife’s life at risk and revealed he had two drinks at the casino before crash

With tears in his eyes Vidal said he felt embarrassed and asked for forgiveness following the incident

Vidal was greeted by devoted Chile supporters as he entered – with fans worried that their Copa America hopes may be diminished with his possible absence.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday Vidal said: ‘I had two drinks and had an accident, as everyone knows, and put the life of my wife and other people at risk. And for that I’m really sorry,’ Vidal told reporters, his voice cracking as he held back tears.

‘I’m really embarrassed and all I can do is ask for forgiveness and show on the field that this opportunity I’ve been given is worth something.’

Vidal was taken to hospital after the incident but later tweeted that he was unhurt after suffering just a bruise

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli has confirmed that Vidal will not be withdrawn from the squad

Chile head coach Jorge Sampaoli has played down the incident and has confirmed that Vidal will remain with the squad throughout the tournament.

‘Arturo’s accident worried us all,’ said Sampaoli. ‘The first thing that crossed our minds were his health and his family. We will see how he is.

‘He is a very valuable player who has made a mistake, but not the kind of mistake to exclude him. He was in his free time after all. I don’t believe this is as serious as some have tried to portray it.

‘At this point it’d be easier to exclude him than to include him. And if we notice anything that affects the national team, we will make a decision on that. An internal correction. But it’s not in my nature to single out and exclude someone for making a mistake.’

The Juventus star insists that he was not responsible for the accident which saw his £230,000 sports car ruined on Tuesday night, but the player was held overnight ahead of the court hearing.

Vidal was not badly hurt in the accident while his wife Maria Teresa Matus also escaped serious injury.

Vidal drives the £230,000 car in happier times as he arrives for a training session with his Chile squad

The director of Buin hospital, where the pair were taken after the smash on a motorway south of Chile’s capital Santiago, said that the midfielder had a slight bruise on his neck and Maria’s elbow was damaged.

Before news broke that he was being detained by police, Vidal tweeted: ‘Regrettably I was involved in a traffic accident. Luckily we are all well and calm. Thanks for the concern.’

He also appeared in a video in which he said: ‘Hello. Today I was in a traffic accident. It wasn’t my fault, I am well, my family are well, and thanks for everything.’

Police colonel Ricardo Gonzalez spoke on Chilean television to confirm that Vidal was being kept overnight in the 15th Precinct of Buin.

The midfielder had been the hero for his country the previous day, scoring twice in their 3-3 draw with Mexico

Lamentablemente me vi involucrado en un accidente de tránsito. Por suerte estamos todos bien y tranquilos. Gracias x la preocupación!

— Arturo Vidal (@kingarturo23) June 17, 2015

THE CAR VIDAL WAS DRIVING

Ferrari 458 Italia

Top speed: 202mph

0-60mph: 3 secs

Brake Horsepower: 562

Price: £230,000

Vidal’s sports car was ruined in the collision, which involved three vehicles, according to a police report.

‘The driver of the red vehicle was under the influence of alcohol,’ Gonzalez said, referring to Vidal.

The 28-year-old and his wife were said to be returning from a casino south of Santiago when the incident occurred.

Chile players had a free afternoon but were told to return home by 11pm on Tuesday night.

Jose Sulantay, a former Chile Under 20 coach, who worked with Vidal, told CNN Chile: ‘It’s very serious to let this happen right in the middle of the Copa America. This sort of stuff doesn’t happen [when they play] in Europe. I don’t understand coach Jorge Sampaoli and I don’t understand Vidal.’

Vidal had brought his expensive ride to training on Tuesday morning, the day after he scored twice to earn Chile a point against Mexico.

He is the top scorer in the Copa America with three goals after scoring a penalty in the hosts’ opening-day win over Ecuador.

Chile play their third and final group game against Bolivia in the capital on Friday.