'Shock': Superstar who once dominated the English Premier League alongside Son Heung-min faces controversy over 'refusal to undergo drunk driving test' — "I've been through hell..." bizarre plea

*This content was translated by AI.

This is the downfall of a superstar who once ruled the English Premier League (EPL) stage, earning fame as one of the league's top wingers alongside Son Heung-min (LAFC). A shocking incident occurred in which Rahim Sterling (32, Feyenoord) was abruptly arrested by local police for drug-impaired driving and causing a major traffic accident.

British outlet 'Daily Mail' reported on the 30th (Korean time) that "former England national team player Sterling was arrested by police on suspicion of drug-impaired driving."

According to the media, Sterling was driving his Lamborghini near a highway interchange just before 9 a.m. local time on Thursday when he crashed into a road barrier.

Police who responded to the report issued an official statement highlighting the severity of the situation. Summarizing local reports, police explained: "We received a report that a Lamborghini collided with a barrier. No other vehicles were involved, and no injuries were reported." However, they added that "the 32nd-year-old driver (Sterling) was arrested at the scene on charges of driving while unfit due to drug use, dangerous driving, possession of drugs, and refusal to undergo alcohol and drug testing."

Sterling has currently been released on bail while further investigations are underway.

Sterling, who earned a reputation as a top-tier attacker with 396 career EPL appearances, 123 goals, and 75 assists, saw his fall send shockwaves through the local football community. After making a meteoric debut at Liverpool as a teenager, he moved to Manchester City, where he lifted a total of 10 major trophies, including four league titles and the FA Cup. However, his career began to deteriorate rapidly from the summer of 2022 when he donned the Chelsea jersey.

Under former manager Enzo Maresca, Sterling was classified as a player outside the team's plans. He endured the humiliation of training alone for over six months, isolated from the first team. He was later loaned to Arsenal for the 2024–2025 season, but that move also ended in complete failure. Ultimately, his contract with Chelsea was forcibly terminated a few months ago.

Cornered, Sterling moved to Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie last February to embark on a new challenge. It was a move intended to reverse his downward trend, but he struggled with a goal drought, managing just eight league appearances without scoring a single goal. To make matters worse, he now faces the most serious criminal charges, putting his entire playing career at risk of ending.

Sterling's close associate told the media in an interview, "Sterling has been through hell for the past two years," expressing his mental anguish. The associate added, "The psychological pressure he has endured is unimaginable. He was completely isolated and had to endure mockery and ridicule labeling him an incompetent failure and a finished player from the moment he touched the ball."

The associate continued, "Sterling left for the Netherlands to regain his passion for football and escape the world's gaze, but negative attention ultimately followed him. This incident is the result of the extremely difficult two years he endured."

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*This content was translated by AI.