Villa drop Agbonlahor over shisha pipe

Apr 1, 2016 - 10:09 AM Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has been dropped pending an investigation after pictures were published of him apparently smoking a shisha pipe.

Villa, who are bottom of the Premier League, announced Agbonlahor would not be included in the squad for Saturday's Premier League game against Chelsea as the club looks into his behaviour while on holiday in the United Arab Emirates.

The decision was taken by caretaker manager Eric Black, who took over this week after Remi Garde was sacked following a dismal five-month spell in charge.

"There's an ongoing investigation which will run its course, I'm sure," Black told reporters on Friday.

"Obviously I can't give you any more information on that as we stand but that is underway. I've taken the decision myself that I want us to focus on football matches now so I've removed Gabby from the squad for Saturday."

Agbonlahor, who has three England caps, has played 18 games for Villa this season but scored just once and was dropped to the bench for Garde's final match in charge, a 1-0 defeat to Swansea City.

The 29-year-old was pictured with club team mate Micah Richards and Crystal Palace pair Dwight Gayle and Fraizer Campbell.

"It's part and parcel, unfortunately, of modern-day football. I can assure you Aston Villa's not the only club that's had to deal with this," Black added.

"We'll deal with it in the right manner and try to remove those issues and focus purely on what this club should be about. That's playing football."

Source: AAP