Two roadside readings, 0.91 mg/l and 0.89 mg/l, both close to double the 0.5 mg/l Italian drink-drive limit. Local police in Milan confiscated Daniel Maldini’s driving license on the spot.
The crash happened at around 5:15 in the morning on Sunday, September 13, at Piazza Caneva in Milan. Maldini was driving a Porsche Carrera with three passengers and, according to police, failed to give way to a Volkswagen Golf coming the other direction. Five other people were involved, aged between 19 and 22. All were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Maldini was discharged the same morning from Fatebenefratelli.
The 24-year-old had converted the winner from the penalty spot only hours earlier, in Cagliari’s 2-1 Serie A win at Atalanta in Bergamo on Saturday, September 12.
Cagliari’s Monday morning statement
Initial Italian reporting, led by Gazzetta dello Sport, indicated Maldini had also failed a preliminary drug screening at the hospital. Cagliari waited until Monday morning to answer.
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“All tests carried out returned negative results,” the club said, adding that Maldini would return to training that afternoon.
The initial positive on the roadside pre-screen, in other words, was not confirmed by the full toxicology analysis. What still stands is the drink-drive reading and the confiscated license. Maldini has been charged with driving under the influence.
The FIGC code and the October squad
That distinction matters for Italy manager Roberto Mancini and for the October international break. Under the Italian Football Federation’s code of ethics, players are expected to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the shirt, and a confiscated license after a drink-drive collision at 0.91 mg/l is the sort of incident that has kept prospects out of the Azzurri before.
Maldini, a senior Italy international, had been in the frame for Mancini’s next squad after his Bergamo penalty. Italian outlets report the incident “could conflict with the national team’s code of ethics”, potentially closing the door for now. Neither the FIGC nor Mancini has issued a public position.
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Cagliari have not announced disciplinary action against the player. A “significant” internal fine is being discussed at club level, according to reporting from Sardinia.
Mancini names his squad this week ahead of Italy’s October Nations League fixtures.
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