Former US women’s soccer star Abby Wambach on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and was given permission by an Oregon judge to travel out of the state for work reasons, prosecutors said.
Wambach, who helped lead the US women’s soccer team to the FIFA Women’s World Cup title last year and retired as the world’s leading international goal-scorer, was arrested late on Saturday night in Portland, Oregon.
Portland Police said Wambach, 35, had run a red light in her 2014 Range Rover and was taken to Multnomah County Jail on charges of driving under the influence after failing a field sobriety test. She was later released on her own recognizance.
Photo: AP
Wambach, who retired from soccer in October last year, was not in court for the arraignment and her not guilty plea was entered by a defense lawyer, Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Susan O’Connor said.
A judge set an April 26 date for the former Olympic, professional and Women’s World Cup player to appear in court for further proceedings in the case.
The judge granted Wambach permission to leave the state for a work commitment, O’Connor said. The soccer star was scheduled to speak at the University of Kentucky on Tuesday evening.
Wambach apologized for the incident in a statement posted on her social media accounts on Sunday.
“I take full responsibility for my actions. This is all on me,” Wambach said in the statement, promising not to repeat what she called a “horrible mistake.”
On Sunday evening, CNBC reported that officials for the car company Mini, which debuted an advertisement featuring Wambach and other celebrities during the Super Bowl, are “re-evaluating” the company’s relationship with her.
Wambach, a vocal supporter of women’s sports, led the US team in scoring in every world championship she played until the Women’s World Cup in July last year, when the US defeated Japan 5-2 in the final, winning their first World Cup title in 16 years.
In addition to four Women’s World Cup tournaments, Wambach played in two Olympics, winning goal medals in 2004 in Athens and 2012 in London.
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