Radja Nainggolan 'suspended indefinitely' after being caught smoking in dugout before game
Radja Nainggolan has been suspended indefinitely by Royal Antwerp after he was caught smoking in the dugout.
The 34-year-old midfielder, who has spent the majority of his career in Italy, penned a two-year deal with Belgian First Division side Antwerp this summer after his contract with Inter Milan was terminated by mutual consent.
But things haven't exactly gone to plan for Nainggolan on his highly-anticipated return to Belgium.
Last week, he was reportedly arrested for being behind the wheel when his driver's licence had expired, according to Reuters.
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And on Sunday, the experienced midfielder was spotted smoking an e-cigarette while sitting in the dugout.
He was named on the substitutes bench for Sunday's 3-1 defeat against Standard Liege as goals from William Balikwisha, Denis Dragus and Cihan Canak sealed a crucial win for the home side.
Nainggolan's actions, meanwhile, have led Royal Antwerp to suspend the player indefinitely for 'general behaviour' that reflected badly on the club.
A statement on their website reads: “The club had a conversation with Radja Nainggolan about his general behaviour and how this affects the club and the team.
“The club has decided to expel Radja from team A indefinitely. Neither the player nor the club will make any further comments on this.”
In an interview with France Football in October, the former AS Roma man explained why footballers should be allowed to smoke cigarettes.
“I am a normal person, not a bad boy as most people label me," he said. “I can walk in the worst neighbourhoods and live in a normal way. I can get the treatment most players have, but it doesn’t mean that I look for it.
“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.”
Back in 2016, ahead of the European Championship in France, Belgium manager Marc Wilmots said he made special dispensation for Nainggolan's smoking habit as he'd "trash his room" if he didn't let him smoke.
"Yes, Radja smokes. It's a habit and a lot of people do it in France and Italy," he told Sporza.be.
"I am not going to stop him if that's what he needs. I am flexible when it comes to matters like this. It's his body.
"I'm fine with it so long as he performs out there on the pitch. I always make sure he gets a room with a balcony, so he does not set off the smoke alarm.
"I think he is the only one at the Belgium national team who smokes. I reckon he would trash his room if we forbade him to smoke five or six cigarettes per day.
"It's his problem if this means he will have to retire at 30 rather than at 35."
Topics: Belgium, AS Roma, Inter Milan
Jack Kenmare