Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann breaks silence after having licence revoked for drink driving following Oktoberfest celebrations
- The German was Gunners' No 1 goalkeeper during 2003-04 Invincibles season
- He was pulled over in lederhosen by a police patrol in Munich district of Sendling
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Jens Lehmann has opened up on an Oktoberfest drink-driving saga which saw the former Arsenal goalkeeper have his licence revoked.
The German wrote his name into Gunners folklore after being the side's no1 goalkeeper during their Invincibles season in the 2003-04 campaign.
But the 54-year-old found himself in hot water in September after he was pulled over in lederhosen by a police patrol in the Munich district of Sendling while under the influence.
It was reported that the German was staggering and smelled of alcohol, and that he had to be taken to the police station to undergo further tests because he could not complete breath tests. His licence was then revoked.
Lehmann has now broken his silence on the incident and expressed his 'regret' over his actions that day, Bild reports.
Jens Lehmann has opened up on an Oktoberfest drink-driving saga which saw the former Arsenal goalkeeper have his licence revoked
The German wrote his name into Gunners folklore after being the side's no1 goalkeeper during their Invincibles season
Lehmann is said to have been staggering and smelled of alcohol (pictured, alongside Sol Campbell at an Oktoberfest event in 2012)
He said: 'The truth was that I made a mistake because I thought I could drive. That wasn't the case. I had 0.7 per mille.
'It was not a good move on my part and I regret it. I misjudged myself and drove two hours after the incident.
'If you have a blood alcohol level of 0.7 per mille, your driving license will be revoked for four weeks. And that's the way it should be.
'It was sometimes portrayed as if I had been totally drunk, which was not the case at all. There is a follow-up to this. We'll see.'
Lehmann was reportedly downing steins - a large beer mug - of alcohol during the celebrations in Munich on Sunday, partying at the Bavarian beer festival.
He is also said to have been spotted dancing on benches in the Schutzenfest tent and was believed to have been wearing a traditional Bavarian dress.
A source told The Sun: 'There are police officers lurking around the Oktoberfest who are supposed to prevent drink driving.'
Senior public prosecutor Anne Leiding said: 'Mr. Lehmann was subjected to a police check on September 23, 2024 at around 1:30am due to his unusual driving behavior in a car in the inner city area of Munich.'
Lehmann is thought to be a regular at Oktoberfest celebrations in his home country of Germany (pictured, Lehmann alongside Didier Drogba in 2011)
Lehmann, pictured at Oktoberfest in 2014, is said to have gone to the police station for extra tests after failing to complete a breath test
She added: 'The police are said to have noticed a clear smell of alcohol and an unsafe manner.
'A breath alcohol test did not produce any usable results, whereupon a blood sample was ordered and the driver's licence was confiscated.
'Our investigations are still pending. Suspicions of drunk driving continue.'
Lehmann is thought to be a regular at the festival, having been pictured during celebrations alongside Didier Drogba in 2011 and with Invincibles team-mate Sol Campbell in 2012.
