The Manchester City and England goalkeeper Khiara Keating has appeared in court accused of possession of canisters of nitrous oxide, also known as “hippy crack”.
Keating, 20, stood in the dock at Manchester magistrates court alongside her mother, Nicola Keating, 48, jointly charged with possession of the Class C drug, more widely known as laughing gas, in Manchester last month.
The footballer, wearing a black trouser suit and trainers, spoke only to confirm her name and address. She was asked to indicate a plea and replied “not guilty”, as did her mother.
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
The charge is an “either way” offence and can be heard by magistrates or at a crown court before a jury. Both women chose to have their case heard before magistrates. Jonathan Potter, prosecuting, said the women are accused of the possession of nitrous oxide canisters for wrongful inhalation, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Keating, of Ashton Old Road, east Manchester, kept nine clean sheets in 22 league games last season for City, who finished second to Chelsea in the Women’s Super League. She was on the books of Manchester United before being spotted by a City scout.
Keating received her first Lionesses call-up last October and was part of the squad for the recent final batch of Euro 2025 qualifiers, although she has not made her senior international debut. She played for City for the first time as a 17-year-old in January 2022 and became the clear first choice last season. Keating has played for England at under-17, under-19 and under-23 level.
Nitrous oxide was made a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act last November, as part of the government’s antisocial behaviour action plan. Possession of nitrous oxide, where a person intends to wrongfully inhale it for a psychoactive effect, is an offence but it is still possible to use the gas for legitimate reasons, such as in catering or pain relief during labour.
Magistrates granted Keating and her mother unconditional bail and adjourned the case until 10 September back at the same court for a district judge to fix a date for trial.
