Manchester United Star Leny Yoro Handed Six-Month Driving Ban for Excessive Speeding
Manchester United footballer Leny Yoro has been banned from driving for six months after he was caught speeding at more than 70 miles per hour in his luxury Porsche past residential properties and a school. The 20-year-old French centre back, who joined the club in a high-profile transfer last summer, faced legal consequences for his dangerous driving behaviour.
High-Speed Offence in Residential Area
The incident occurred on August 28 last year when Yoro was driving his £170,000 Porsche Cayenne GTS along Mauldeth Road West in the Manchester suburb of Withington. A speed camera recorded the vehicle travelling at 72 miles per hour, which is nearly two-and-a-half times the legal 30 miles per hour limit for that area. This particular stretch of road is lined with homes, a secondary school, and a sports club, making the excessive speed particularly concerning for public safety.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At Crewe Magistrates' Court on Saturday, Yoro received a six-month driving disqualification, a £666 fine, and was ordered to pay £120 in costs plus a £266 victim surcharge. The case was handled through the single justice procedure, allowing magistrate Sunjeep Bhalla to convict and sentence the footballer based solely on written evidence, meaning Yoro did not have to appear in court personally.
Notably, Yoro was not facing an automatic ban through accumulating penalty points but was specifically disqualified due to the exceptionally high speed recorded in a restricted zone. His lawyer, Lisa Nevitt from Burton Copeland, communicated to the court that Yoro understood the likelihood of disqualification given the circumstances and would not contest it.
Apology and Explanation from Defence
Legal representatives for the defender issued an apology on his behalf, explaining that Yoro was 'rushing to take a friend to the railway station' at the time of the offence. The defence statement further noted that 'he believes where the speeding took place was at a point where the road was broad and there was little prospect of being any contact with any vulnerable road users such as pedestrians.'
The lawyer emphasised Yoro's prompt guilty plea to the speeding charge, which was submitted online with assistance from a Manchester United official. Greater Manchester Police had initially charged Yoro with both speeding and failing to identify the driver, but the latter allegation was withdrawn, sparing him a second conviction.
Broader Context and Vehicle Details
Court records reveal that Yoro was among more than 7,000 individuals prosecuted for speeding offences across England and Wales last week alone, with magistrates imposing total fines exceeding £20,000 and banning 115 drivers. Vehicle registration documents show that the high-performance Porsche was only registered in August last year, shortly before Yoro committed the traffic violation.
The young defender, who signed for Manchester United in July 2024 for a reported £52.2 million transfer fee, has made 23 appearances for the club this season. This incident represents a significant personal setback for the rising football star, highlighting the serious consequences of dangerous driving behaviour even for high-profile athletes.
