Haaland risks being jailed for ignoring $70 fine
It’s not uncommon for soccer players to find themselves in legal trouble, but it’s quite surprising when it involves a jail sentence over a mere $70.
Specifically, $69.50. What’s even more shocking is seeing the name of Erling Haaland, usually known for keeping personal life private, appear in the Official Gazette of the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland on October 25.
The notice states that the Manchester City striker failed to pay a traffic fine worth 60 Swiss francs (just under $70). An inconsequential figure considering the Norwegian earns around $21 million annually, making him the second-highest-paid player in the Premier League, just behind his teammate Kevin De Bruyne. However, this unpaid fine could force him to spend a day in jail during his next visit to Switzerland.
Father Alf-Inge Haaland, who also played for City between 2000 and 2003, currently resides in the Swiss Canton of Vaud, a place Erling regularly travels to.
If he plans to visit when he eventually gets some time off, he will need to resolve this legal issue with the Swiss authorities first. According to Swiss outlet Blick, if Haaland does not pay the fine, he will be detained and serve a day in jail when he sets foot on Swiss soil.