Chelsea footballer David Datro Fofana has avoided a driving disqualification, despite being convicted for a second time of driving without a valid licence and accumulating a total of 14 penalty points.
Double Offence and Substantial Fines
The 22-year-old Ivorian striker, currently on loan at Turkish Süper Lig side Fatih Karagümrük, was first stopped by police in February 2025 in Chessington, Surrey. Officers found he was driving alone in a vehicle without insurance and while holding only a provisional licence. The vehicle was also not displaying the legally required 'L' plates.
For this initial offence, Fofana was handed eight penalty points on his provisional licence at a hearing in October and was fined a hefty £10,000 by magistrates.
Caught Again Behind the Wheel
Despite the earlier conviction, Fofana was caught driving again just months later in July 2025. This time, he was behind the wheel of his £100,000 Cadillac and was also accused of speeding.
He did not enter a plea for this second set of charges, brought by the Metropolitan Police, and was found guilty by a magistrate in Bexley. For the speeding offence, he received an additional six penalty points, a £440 fine, and was ordered to pay £110 in costs plus a £176 victim surcharge.
Unexplained Decision to Spare a Ban
With the new points, Fofana's total reached 14, which would typically trigger an automatic driving ban under the 'totting-up' procedure. However, the court decided not to consider a ban during a Single Justice Procedure hearing held behind closed doors. This decision, which has not been publicly explained, means the Chelsea-owned player remains legally able to drive.
PC Mark Nash, who stopped Fofana in February, stated the player had admitted to being in the UK for three years at the time and confirmed he was the sole occupant of the vehicle without supervision.
Football Career in Flux
Fofana's off-pitch troubles come during a period of uncertainty in his professional career. He joined Chelsea from Norwegian club Molde in 2022 but made only four appearances in his debut season before being sent out on a series of loans.
After spells at Union Berlin, Burnley, and Goztepe, he moved to Fatih Karagümrük this summer, where he has scored five goals in 11 appearances. The Turkish club holds an option to buy him permanently, while his Chelsea contract still has two-and-a-half years remaining.
At international level, Fofana has earned three caps for the Ivory Coast since his 2019 debut but is yet to score for his country.
