Lionesses star Khiara Keating has been ‘caught driving illegally after not paying her car tax’.
Just a day after the incredible scenes in London for the open top bus parade celebrating England’s Euro 2025 victory, reality bit hard for the 21-year-old.
According to the Sun, Keating, a reserve goalkeeper behind Hannah Hampton in the squad, had been stopped by police last December in Bury.
They report that she was found to be driving her VW Polo in Bury when the tax had expired four months earlier.
She was fined £440 and ordered to pay back duty of £79.17 and £20 costs.
Keating reportedly did not appear in court for the case so it was proven in her absence. Back in June, Keating expressed her relief at the dropping of a different charge by police.
Khiara Keating, pictured during the Lionesses’ parade on Wednesday, was hit with a fine
Keating poses with the trophy after England went back-to-back at the Euros
The England No 2 goalkeeper was brought back down to earth after Euro celebrations
They originally alleged that she had possessed laughing gas but those charges were dropped and afterwards she told the BBC: ‘I’m relieved the charges have been dropped.
‘As I’ve always said, I did nothing wrong. It’s been a difficult time, but I’ve always known the truth
‘Now I’m just looking forward to focusing fully on the Euros and spending time with my family.’
And the tournament proved to be a remarkable one for Keating and Co, though the No 2 stopper did not play a minute given Hampton’s starring role, she was said to be crucial for squad unity behind the scenes.
She joined the rest of the squad for their joyous homecoming having seen off Spain in Sunday’s final in a dramatic penalty shootout.
The Lionesses enjoyed a heroes’ welcome on The Mall on Wednesday, with Keating and the squad greeted by a 65,000-strong crowd as they rode buses bearing the slogan ‘2022 and 2025 European Champions’ through central London – with Princess Beatrice among those cheering them on with her family.
Kerry Davis – the first Black women’s footballer to play for England – then brought out the Euro 2025 trophy alongside Jane Oboavwoduo, a 14-year-old forward in the England Under-17s, before the team hoisted it aloft in a flurry of red smoke to the cheers of thousands.
A tearful Leah Williamson told the crowds it had been like a ‘fairytale’, adding: ‘I’ve been crying all the way down the Mall. It’s unbelievable. It’s one of the best things we’ve ever been a part of.’
An ecstatic Chloe Kelly let slip a swear word live on air as she was interviewed – after swearing into the camera as she picked up her winners’ medal on Sunday.
‘It feels so good to stand side by side with every single one of these girls and the staff you don’t see behind the scenes. It’s so f****** special,’ she grinned, forcing host and ex-England star Alex Scott to issue an on-air apology.
Kelly had shouted ‘f****** come on’ into the camera on Sunday after being presented with her medal by Prince William – to the amusement of fans.
Even Sarina Wiegman couldn’t hold back from dancing after singer Burna Boy was brought on stage to perform her favourite song, For My Hand and the party continued long into the afternoon.
