Aston Villa suspend Agbonlahor over night out reports

Aston Villa announced on Tuesday that they have suspended striker Gabriel Agbonlahor following reports he went out partying in London on the day of their relegation from the Premier League. British newspapers printed pictures of Agbonlahor, 29, with laughing gas canisters during a night out, allegedly taken hours after Villa’s 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday condemned them to the drop.
Agbonlahor had previously been sidelined by Villa caretaker manager Eric Black due to concerns about his fitness.
“Aston Villa Football Club have today suspended Gabby Agbonlahor pending an internal investigation,” Villa said in a statement.
“This is following allegations concerning his conduct at the weekend. There will be no further comment from the club in relation to this matter until the investigation has been completed.”
Tuesday’s announcement from Villa comes two weeks after the club cleared Agbonlahor of wrongdoing following an investigation into a trip to Dubai that he made.
Black subsequently announced that Agbonlahor would be removed from the first-team squad and put on a two-week personal fitness regime.
An academy graduate, Agbonlahor is Villa’s longest-serving player and current club captain, but has made only 15 Premier League appearances this season, scoring once.
Villa’s defeat at Old Trafford left them 15 points adrift of safety with only 12 points to play for and the club are also in turmoil off the pitch.
Manager Remi Garde was sacked last month and new board members David Bernstein and Mervyn King both resigned from their posts on Monday.