Ex-Prem star Michail Antonio banned from driving for Lamborghini offence just months after near-fatal crash

FORMER Premier League star Michail Antonio has been banned from driving for a motoring offence just months on from a horror crash that nearly killed him. The ex-West Ham striker failed to tell cops who was driving when his flashy Lamborghini Urus was seen being driven without due care and attention. Antonio’s Lambo was driving erratically Credit: PA It came just months after he nearly died in a horror crash Credit: Steve Bell Antonio told Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court he was not the driver, having allowed the £200,000 supercar to be loaned out by his cousin while he was away in Manchester. The footballer also claimed he had not received the initial police letter, asking for the driver’s identity, suggesting it was lost in the post. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! He said was then “shocked” to discover, in February, that he had been charged with a failure to identify the driver. Antonio, who now plays for Championship side Watford, has been found guilty of failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle when required. The court was told previously Antonio already has six points on his licence after being convicted of driving without insurance in July 2025. He was given a further six points yesterday – leading to an automatic six-month disqualification – and he was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine, £650 in prosecution costs, and a £400 victim surcharge. The court heard Antonio was the registered keeper of the Lamborghini Urus when it was involved in an incident on Pall Mall at 12.38am on November 5 last year. The Met wrote to him on November 12 last year to seek the identity of the driver, and commenced a criminal prosecution when it did not receive a response. Most read in Sport The star was rushed to hospital after he crashed into a tree in December 2024 Credit: Unknown The footballer also famously crashed into a family’s home dressed as a snowman Credit: The Sun Giving evidence, Antonio said he was visiting his children in Manchester from November 3 to 6 last year, and said he had handed over the keys to the Lamborghini to Tarique Josephs who runs a company loaning out cars. He said he called Mr Josephs in February after receiving a notice of the criminal charge. “I was in shock”, Antonio said, of his reaction to finding out he was being prosecuted. “How can I be charged with something I haven’t done? “This is the first time I was aware of that.” He gave evidence that Mr Josephs “rents my car every now and then”, telling the court: “When someone calls up for a Lamborghini, he will call me and say can I use your Lamborghini. “I worked out he had the car at the time, he has come across to me to collect the forms, and said he would send the details.” Mr Josephs told the court he filled out the response to the prosecution, entering a not guilty plea and giving a brief explanation that the car had been on loan. When questioned why he had not mentioned the other driver’s details on the form, he claimed to have included a copy of the loan agreement in the same envelope when posting it back. Antonio’s girlfriend, Sunita Bains, gave evidence that she handles the mail to their £2.2 million Buckinghamshire mansion, and said she does not believe the initial police letter ever arrived. The footballer is also accused of failing to respond to West Midlands police over a speeding offence in the Lamborghini. He is set to stand trial on that charge next March. Antonio pictured recovering after the 2024 crash Credit: Instagram @michailantonio He later joked he was steering clear of sports cars Credit: Getty A representative for Antonio said previously the footballer was not in the car at the time and could not drive due to the injuries he sustained in a 2024 crash. Antonio’s Lambo was allegedly clocked speeding in March 2025 – just three months after the star nearly died in a horror crash. He smashed his Ferrari into a tree in December 2024 – leaving him with a serious lower leg fracture. The Jamaican international had to be cut free by firefighters after being left trapped in the high-powered car for 45 minutes. He was airlifted to hospital and rushed into surgery and spent the rest of the season fighting to get back to fitness. Antonio finally made his big comeback in June, playing as a substitute for Jamaica in the Gold Cup group stage, losing to Guatemala in California. The footballer later told how he had been given “another chance at life” after he was “close to dying”. He also joked he was “staying far away from sports cars” in a chat with the BBC. The dad-of-six added: “I’ve always been a fan and friend of sports cars and old classics, but I can’t lie to you, sports cars are not my friends. “So right now, I have a Mercedes people carrier and my brother is my driver. For now, anyway, I’m staying far away from sports cars. “Every time I get behind the wheel, I worry that even if something small happens, it will be like, ‘Ah, Michail’s been in a crash again’. “That kind of negativity gets in my mind and gives me a bit of nerves.” Antonio was involved in another crash in 2019 when he smashed his £210,000 Lamborghini Huracan into a family home while dressed as a snowman on Christmas Day. Footage showed Antonio clambering out of the mangled car in his costume after the crash. The ace had earlier posted a video of himself singing Walking in the Air, the theme tune from children’s classic animation The Snowman. Antonio was released by West Ham when his contract expired six months after the 2024 Ferrari crash. He went on to train with Leicester City and Brentford before signing for Al-Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League. Antonio joined Watford this month on a one-year contract.