Football
Adriana Garcia 8y

Las Palmas won't release Sergio Araujo for drink-driving charge

Las Palmas will not terminate the contract of Sergio Araujo if the Argentinian striker is convicted for a drink-driving offence.

The 24-year-old is expected to attend a court hearing on Wednesday in Las Palmas, having reportedly refused to take a breathalyser after being stopped by police in the early hours of Monday.

"Sergio's issue is non-sporting related and it will be the courts to determine if he has been negligent and the severity of the offense," Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramirez told Onda Cero.

"If Araujo is found to have been negligent, we will open disciplinary proceedings for that but we are not going to hang him in the town square.

"We are not going to end our contractual agreement with him, we are not going to throw him out of the club.

"He is a valued member of this team and he knows that besides having to answer as any other citizen to the law, he will also have to be accountable to the club.

"We have internal regulations in the club that will be started."

Araujo scored 24 goals in 43 appearances while on loan at Las Palmas from Boca Juniors in the 2014-15 campaign to help the Canary Islands based club gain promotion to Spain's top flight.

Las Palmas bought the player outright in June 2015 and he signed a five-year deal. Araujo scored his first La Liga goal on Sept. 13 when he netted his team's first in a 3-3 draw at Celta Vigo.

The Buenos Aires native also struck a late equaliser in Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Real Madrid.

Las Palmas coach Quique Setien said the player will get the support he needs.

"For some time now he had had an exemplary attitude," Setien told Radio Marca "He had a lot of enthusiasm placed on this season.

"There are times when one loses his path, you forget who you are and who you represent.

"The only thing we can do is for all of us to give him a helping hand."

Las Palmas have won three of their opening six league games and play at Osasuna on Saturday.

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