France's World Cup keeper Lloris avoids jail over drink-driving

France's World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris avoided jail but received a 20-month driving ban and a USD 65,000 fine on Wednesday for drink-driving in central London.

The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper had earlier called his behaviour "unacceptable" and received a lighter sentence from a judge who could have locked up the star for six months.

"On 15th of July, he was the proudest man of the planet," attorney David Sonn said in reference to the day Lloris and his France team lifted the World Cup trophy in Moscow.

"Forty days later, he was arrested in central London," said the lawer. "Today he apologises to the court." Lloris was one of the heroes of France's commanding march to their second football World Cup in 20 years.

The triumph turned the 31-year-old into a national hero and confirmed his status as one of the most respected goalkeepers in the world.

But Lloris's dream turned into a nightmare when his Porsche was pulled over for a routine stop in central London at 2:20am on August 24.

The Daily Mail tabloid said Lloris registered 100 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath in a police check.

The amount is roughly the equivalent of seven glasses of wine, although alcohol levels depend on multiple factors such as age, gender and metabolism.

The legal driving limit in England in a breathalyser test is 35 microgrammes.

"I wish to apologise wholeheartedly to my family, the club, my teammates, the manager and all of the supporters," Lloris had earlier said in a statement.

"Drink-driving is completely unacceptable, I take full responsibility for my actions and it is not the example I wish to set." Police said Lloris nearly hit parked cars and went through a red light. They found vomit in the car after stopping him.

Lloris spent seven hours in a cell that night before returning home on foot.

- Taxi cancelled -
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"He had booked a taxi but unfortunately the taxi cancelled at the last minute," Sonn said. "He made a first mistake -- he decided to drive."