Radja Nainggolan defends traffic breach after daughter's call

Radja Nainggolan, the former Belgium ‘Red Devil’, responded through lawyer Omar Souidi on Saturday evening after police stopped him in Ranst for running a red light while under an active driving ban, saying he had been called by his daughter who was in panic and needed urgent medical transport.

Police stopped Nainggolan on Saturday evening after he ran a red light in the town of Ranst. During the pursuit he narrowly avoided colliding with a police vehicle.

Despite an existing driving prohibition, Nainggolan was found behind the wheel. The ban had been in effect at the time of the incident.

Lawyer Omar Souidi argued that Nainggolan’s decision to drive was not motivated by convenience or indifference. He stressed that the circumstances were exceptional.

“​He was called by his daughter, who was in panic, felt unwell and asked to be taken to the hospital because she does not have a driving licence,” Souidi told . The lawyer added that the daughter’s condition prompted the urgent trip.

Souidi emphasized that Nainggolan was convinced medical assistance was necessary. He said the former midfielder drove his daughter to the hospital before being stopped by police.

The incident occurred last weekend in Ranst. Souidi’s comments were provided to as part of Nainggolan’s legal response.