Richard Keogh: Derby County sack captain for 'gross misconduct'

Richard Keogh returned to Pride Park to watch Derby play Wigan earlier this month

Derby County have sacked captain Richard Keogh for gross misconduct over his involvement in a crash that led to the arrest of two of his team-mates.

Keogh, 33, sustained knee ligament damage and was ruled out for up to 15 months after Tom Lawrence crashed into a lamppost last month.

Midfielder Lawrence and Rams forward Mason Bennett both later pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Keogh made 356 appearances for the Rams after joining from Coventry in 2012.

The Championship club said in a statement that they had "completed the disciplinary hearing regarding Richard Keogh in respect of his involvement in the events of Tuesday, 24 September" and that his contract had been "terminated with immediate effect".

"As we have said from the outset, the club will not tolerate any of its players or staff behaving in a manner which puts themselves, their colleagues, and members of the general public at risk of injury or worse, or which brings the club into disrepute," they said.

The Republic of Ireland international, who was contracted to Derby until the end of June 2021, has 14 days to appeal against the decision.

Bennett and Lawrence were fined six weeks' wages by the club, while Derby magistrates' court ordered the players to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, gave them a 12-month community order and banned them from driving for two years.