Arturo Vidal's list of off-field scandals

Been in plenty of trouble off the pitch

Posted Sunday, August 05, 2018 by Marca.com

Problems at the U20 World Cup in Canada

On July 19, 2007, the Chilean U20 team lost to Argentina in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Canada, and after the game a handful of their players got into an altercation with the police. Vidal among them, they were handcuffed and arrested and the Barcelona midfielder accused the police of using insulting racist language and excessive force.

A christening that ended in a party

In November 2011, Vidal, alongside Gonzalo Jara, Jean Beausejour, Carlos Carmona and Jorge Valdivia arrived late to training and in a drunken state after attending the baptism of Valdivia's son. Claudio Borghi, then coach, decided to punish the players by banning them for 20 matches, but the penalty was then reduced to five games.

Party in the Chilean camp

In July 2013, Colombian model Monica Jimenez recorded a video chat with Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel. In the images, both players appear drunk while with the Chile squad, who were preparing for games against Paraguay and Bolivia.

Problems with Juventus: Fighting and partying

After Chile clinched qualification for the 2014 World Cup (in October 2013), Vidal missed his return flight to Italy after getting into a fight, and was fined by Juventus. A year later, he was punished after being out partying until 5.30am the morning before a game against Roma.

The Ferrari accident

During the 2015 Copa America, and just days before Chile would win their first ever title, Vidal was involved in a car accident en route to joining the squad after having a day off. The image of his smashed Ferrari went viral immediately but the midfielder didn't receive any punishment. "I had two drinks, then I had an accident as everyone knows. I put my wife's life and many other people's lives in danger, I'm very sorry."

Disturbances in the casino

Vidal was involved in another altercation at a casino near Santiago where he held a party that lasted into the early hours of the morning. The police were called after security lost control of the situation. "Yes I was at the casino and spent time with friends but then I went home and I cannot stop what my friends are doing," Vidal said at the time.