Kyle Walker will not face criminal charges after a police investigation into CCTV footage which appeared to show the Manchester City footballer “exposing himself” in a Manchester bar.
A Cheshire constabulary statement said: “A 32-year-old man from Prestbury voluntarily attended a police station for questioning on 16 March. He has been dealt with by an out of court disposal and the matter is now closed.”
Cheshire police explains on its website that out of court disposals are “used by the police to deal with low-level crime and anti-social behaviour instead of taking an offender to court. They are a way to resolve an investigation where the offender is known and has admitted to the offence.”
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Walker has received public support from City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, and was selected on Thursday in England’s squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine. Gareth Southgate and the Football Association saw no reason not to call him up and it is understood they do not regard the police decision as a reason to change that.
It was put to Southgate on Thursday that if the police concluded Walker had a case to answer that could affect future selections. England’s manager said: “As we sit here today there was no conclusive reason not to select him in the squad. If that changes then we’ve got to review the situation. And he would understand that.”
Southgate also said: “We feel we want him with us; we feel it’s the right thing to do. When you are an England international there is an even higher bar on how you conduct yourself. I don’t think we are taking those decisions lightly.”
Walker has made one brief substitute appearance for City in the two matches since the police opened an investigation. The club play at home to Burnley on Saturday in the FA Cup fifth round.
The police statement on Friday also said: “On Wednesday 8 March, Cheshire Constabulary was made aware of a video circulating on social media in relation to an alleged incident at a bar in the Wilmslow area. Officers have now concluded their enquiries, which included speaking to those directly involved.”
