Gabriel Agbonlahor Investigated by Aston Villa for Allegedly Smoking Shisha Pipe

Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor will miss the team’s clash with Chelsea on Saturday in keeping with an investigation conducted by the club reportedly looking into player’s conduct.

The club announced the news on Friday morning on their official Twitter feed:

The nature of the investigation was confirmed by Sky Sports News HQ:

As reported by Anthony Hay of the MailOnline, pictures emerged of the 29-year-old appearing to show him smoking a shisha pipe in Dubai during the international break. Hay added he was later spotted in a nightclub alongside team-mate Micah Richards.

Villa are enduring a torrid season, as they are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and 12 points from safety with just seven games left to play. 

The club started the season with Tim Sherwood in charge, although he was sacked and replaced by Frenchman Remi Garde. However, after just four months at the Villa helm, he too was axed earlier this week, having won just two Premier League games.

Agbonlahor is currently the longest-serving player at Villa Park, having come through the club’s academy, and made his debut for the senior side in 2005. A three-time England international, he’s endured a torrid time this season, making 15 appearances in the top flight and scoring just one goal.