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Newcastle legend Solano apologises for breaking coronavirus quarantine rules

  /  autty

Former Newcastle United star Nolberto Solano has made a grovelling apology after being retained by police for breaking strict coronavirus quarantine rules in his native Peru.

The 45-year-old was intercepted after leaving a house with retired footballer Pablo Zegarra on Thursday night.

He angrily denied being at a party, insisting he was visiting a neighbour's home, and raging: 'The only people who can't get together are those who are infected,' in an initial refusal to accept he had been wrong.

But the ex-international, who also played for Aston Villa and West Ham, changed his tune late last night by penning an open letter published by Peruvian media.

He said: 'I write this letter with the sole intention of apologising to you all for not having obeyed the health rules imposed by the government on the country.

'Health and life are and must be the most important factors for us all, especially when the world is experiencing such a serious situation.

'During my entire life, I've always sought the best for my country and fought for it, and I will continue to do so.

'In this respect, I am conscious of the error I committed and will assume the consequences of my actions with the greatest responsibility, just like any other citizen who breaks a rule in our country.

'As sportspeople we sometimes don't have the correct notion of the impact our actions cause outside of a stadium.'

Solano spoke exclusively to Sportsmail last night and claimed he had been set up by a television show.

'It wasn't a 'party', I went to my neighbour's house for some lunch with my family. She only lives 50 yards from me. There were only six, seven people there. It was safe for all of us and the kids were getting some exercise.

'But somebody heard the music and tried to be clever and told the TV programme. It's about celebrities and, when you are in the public eye, I suppose this sort of thing can happen.

'I was with my kids and said to the reporters, "Come on, guys". The police then got involved and, of course, they had to do their job, but I wasn't arrested.

'I went to the police station with my missus and kids and they took our details. We sorted it out and they let us go.'

However the assistant manager of the Peru national team appeared to back-track, admitting the incident had been a lesson.

'These hours of anguish have enabled me to think that, just as I made many people happy on the football pitch at times, I am also capable, without intention, of making mistakes that cause upset and general annoyance.

'People never stop learning and this is another lesson life has given me.

'For this reason, within the negativeness of this situation, I hope that it at least serves as an example to everyone, especially children and young people, of what no Peruvian male or female should do while quarantine is in place.

'I've gone through a very bad time because of what's happened, but that is secondary if we can make sure no-one else disobeys the rules that have been established with the aim of winning the war in this crisis together.'

Local reports say Solano, who was not formally arrested but was taken to a police station to have his details recorded, could face up to three years in prison in a worst case scenario.

Peruvian Interior Minister Carlos Moran has said people who flout the country's lockdown rules will face prosecution and a posible prison sentence of between six months and three years.

Norberto, known in the UK as Nobby, is due to be summonsed to court once the current quarantine finishes so he can learn his fate.