Ex-Roma star Radja Nainggolan banned indefinitely by Antwerp after he is caught smoking e-cig on bench
RADJA NAINGGOLAN has been suspended indefinitely by Antwerp after being caught smoking an e-cigarette on the bench.
The Belgian star has never been shy in admitting his smoking habit.
But he recently took it one step further by puffing away in his club tracksuit during a match.
According to Yahoo, Nainggolan was arrested last week for driving with an expired license – further enraging his club.
The 34-year-old joined Antwerp last summer after having his Inter Milan contract terminated.
But his future at the Belgian club appears to be hanging in the balance.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
A club statement read: “Clear agreements have also been made about what our club does and does not expect from the player.”
Nainggolan has taken to Instagram to try and smooth the situation over.
He wrote on his Insta story: “The club has made a decision I can only accept, even though I think it might be a bit too severe for me.
“But I will try to contribute in one way or another.”
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
In January 2018, Nainggolan was forced to apologise after posting a video of himself smoking and drinking while celebrating New Year.
Later explaining his lifestyle, he said: “I shop at the supermarket, I can drink a glass [of alcohol] and smoke a cigarette with serenity.
“A footballer can smoke, even if he does not do a ‘normal’ job. Hiding one thing means you have other things to hide.”
During his Roma pomp, he added: “I’m not ashamed because I smoke and I’ve never hidden this habit of mine.
“I know I should set a good example, I have kids… But I’m just a footballer, I do my job. Everyone knows that I smoke and I can’t hide it, but I’m not ashamed.”
After being told he was not part of Antonio Conte’s plans at Inter, Nainggolan twice moved back on loan to Cagliari.
Read More on The Sun
The midfielder’s wife Claudia, who hails from Cagliari, received a devastating cancer diagnosis that summer – with Nainggolan moving to the city’s football club in order for them to be near her family.
It was reported in September 2020 that Claudia had defeated cancer.