Ex-US goalkeeper Hope Solo charged by police for driving offence

Solo was arrested on Thursday

Former US goalkeeper Hope Solo has been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. As reported by Sky News, a spokesperson for Winston-Salem Police Department in North Carolina said the 40-year-old was arrested in a Walmart carpark on Thursday (March 31).

Solo's two-year-old twins were in the car

Police said that her two-year-old twins were in the car when she was found passed out behind the wheel with the engine still running. Solo was charged with impaired driving, resisting arrest, and misdemeanour child abuse, before being released. A police spokesperson said: "Based on the impending prosecution, no further information will be released regarding this arrest." A statement was posted on Solo's Instagram account, which appeared to be written by her lawyer, Rich Nichols. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb0TewdpUva/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=a828b03f-bf36-4fb2-b7dd-d05064136e84 It read: "On the advice of counsel, Hope can't speak about this situation, but she wants everyone to know that her kids are her life, that she was released immediately and is now at home with her family, that the story is more sympathetic than the initial charges suggest, and that she looks forward to her opportunity to defend these charges." The 40-year-old, who helped the US women’s national team win two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup during her career, was exiled from the team following the 2016 Olympics after she called the Swedish team "cowards" for taking a defensive stance against the US.

Suspended in 2015

In 2015, she was suspended for 30 days after she and her husband were pulled over in a van owned by US soccer. Her husband was charged with driving while intoxicated. Solo is set to appear in court on 28 June. Related links:

• United States coach gives her first statement on Hope Solo situation
• Hope Solo will be regretting her “cowards” comments after receiving a lengthy ban
• Hope Solo goes off on one at Swedish “cowards” after Team USA lose Olympics shootout