Alfredo Morelos’ boss, ex Celtic man Efrain Juarez, refused to condemn the former Rangers striker over his alleged drink driving shame – as it emerged the Colombian had the equivalent of four beers in his system when he collided with a motorcyclist.
The 28-year-old is on loan at Atletico Nacional in his homeland and has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons after he was arrested at 9am on Wednesday morning after his Chevrolet smashed into an oncoming motorbike having reportedly crossed lanes on the motorway to overtake a truck.
Shocking photos of the mangled bike wedged under the ex Ibrox striker’s vehicle appeared on Thursday in South American media with Morelos at the roadside. The victim was named as Sebastian Guillermo Davila and he continues to be monitored in hospital after an emergency operation.
Police released a statement saying he had “level two” intoxication which is the equivalent of four beers or two spirits. They said: “Alfredo Jose Morelos Aviles, a forward for the Atlético Nacional club, was arrested. He was driving a pick-up truck, causing a traffic accident while driving under the influence of alcohol (Grade 2), resulting in personal injuries to Sebastian Guillermo Davila Valderrama.”
Morelos – facing a fine of around £4000 plus community service, driving licence suspension and a potential compensation payout – was banished from his side’s squad for their Colombian Cup quarter final second leg against Jaguares, which they won 2-1 on Thursday. Atletico Nacional boss Juarez, who had a stint at Celtic as a player 14 years ago, was quizzed about the club’s position on Morelos after the game.
The Mexican said: “The Alfredo Morelos incident is an issue that the club is analysing and investigating. As I have always said, with the clarity that we have had since the day I arrived in August, we never hide anything. At the right time, whatever decision we make about the circumstances of the incident, we will inform you. Obviously in the last few hours we were involved in this match and now we are thinking about Sunday’s match against Fortaleza.”
However, Morelos’ teammate, Kevin Viveros, sent a message of support to the striker, who netted 124 goals in 269 games for Rangers in a six-year spell.
He said: “The news did impact us a bit, the whole team, but the manager says that we are a family, so we all support him. I admire him a lot and I have told him so. I sent him a message, that on behalf of the whole team, we have our arms open for when he can return to us.”
Lawyer Andres Stiven Gomez, of Colombian firm Territorio Legal, told local news outlet MiOriente: “Following the arrest of Alfredo Morelos, who was caught driving his vehicle under the influence at level two, he will face several proceedings. One is a contraventional process, where his driving licence could be suspended for up to five years. He will have to complete 40 hours of community service, and his vehicle will be impounded for six days.
“From a criminal perspective, he will have to answer for the offence of aggravated negligent bodily harm for driving a motor and additionally for being under the influence. From the victim’s perspective, they may eventually seek full compensation which could lead to a civil liability process to ensure the damages caused to the victim in the traffic accident are compensated.”