Chile coach Sampaoli will not count Vidal out due to "a mistake"

Chilean national team coach, Jorge Sampaoli, has confirmed this Wednesday that Arturo Vidal will continue as part of his team, despite suffering a car accident on Tuesday as a result of drink driving.

"He is a very important player for us, he made a mistake which is not so decisive as to exclude him, but rather to try and convince him of what the national team needs from him in the future."

"When we have everything clear, we will know what to do with regards to the future of Arturo. Today, what we need right now is to include him."

Sampaoli maintained that it was just a mistake from the player, as to not return on time to the place within which the national team are based, as the rest of his teammates did.

Last night, Vidal destroyed his Ferrari in a crash which involved another car in an area close to Santiago.

The footballer, who was accompanied by his wife, was returning to the capital after spending the night in a casino.

Vidal tested positive for alcohol and spent the night in custody in a police station. This Wednesday he was freed by a decision taken by a tribunal in Garantia, which revoked his driving license and ruled that the player would have to sign in every month during the 120 days of investigation surrounding the case.