Four West Brom players embroiled in taxi theft probe after McDonald's 'incident' NAMED

Jonny Evans, Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill apologised for “an incident” which occurred during a West Brom trip to Spain this week.

The squad members were reportedly hauled down to a local police station after being dragged out of their five-star hotel in Barcelona.

They took the taxi at 5.30am on Thursday morning and it was returned to its owner around 8am, it is claimed.

A statement issued on behalf of the players said: “We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our team-mates, the Head Coach, the Club and especially the supporters for the events which have been the subject of widespread and negative publicity.

"We felt it important we identify ourselves as the players involved in an incident which occurred during the training camp in Spain this week out of respect for team-mates who otherwise could be implicated by association.”

ABROAD: Alan Pardew's squad were in Barcelona for a training session

West Brom have confirmed an incident took place on the midweek warm weather trip and are investigating it.

A police source said: “It appears the players had headed to the Barcelona Olympic Port but found everything closed so late on which is normal for midweek.

"They decided to catch a taxi to a McDonald’s drive-through nearby and somehow and for some reason, left there in the cab but without the cab driver.

"The receptionist at the hotel they were staying at phoned police when she saw the taxi had been left unattended outside.

LOCATION: They reportedly ditched the taxi at The One Hotel in Barcelona

"Around the same time Mossos received a call from the stranded taxi driver.

"The four players who had got back to their hotel in the cab were taken to a local police station.”

The players were not arrested but were reportedly taken to the station as suspects being investigation for the theft of a vehicle.

A police source said: “It’s not clear whether the players did what they did as a joke.

"The taxi driver has the right to make his own complaint because apart from anything else he wouldn’t have been earning during the time he was without his cab.”

A receptionist at The One hotel said: “We are not making any comment.”

West Brom issued this statement: “The Club can confirm that four senior players were involved in an incident during this week's mid-winter training trip to Spain.

"The Club has instigated its own investigation into the incident and the players will be subject to the full rigours of our internal disciplinary procedures.

"Until such time as that investigation has been completed, the Club will not be making any further comment.”

The team were taking time out of a three-day warm weather training visit to Barcelona.

Manager Alan Pardew is hoping to turn around his struggling team’s form, who are just seven points from the relegation zone.