Share

Lampard plans 9/11 memorial visit

London - New York City FC's new signing Frank Lampard has revealed that he intends to visit the city's memorial to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Lampard and three team-mates were fined by Premier League club Chelsea in 2001 after participating in a drinking binge in front of American tourists in a hotel near London's Heathrow Airport just a day after the attacks.

The 36-year-old midfielder, who joined New York City on a two-year deal on Thursday, has expressed remorse over the incident and says he intends to visit the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to pay his respects.

"I categorically did not set out to insult anyone or behave badly in front of the Americans and this is an excellent chance to say that," he told Friday's edition of British newspaper the Daily Mail.

"I'm very sensitive to the issue and the tragedy. I was naive and a young boy at the time. I was out on a day I shouldn't have been. I certainly wouldn't do it today.

"I've tried in the last 13 years at Chelsea to be not just a good footballer, but a good man off the pitch."

Asked if he would visit the memorial, which is located where the World Trade Center stood until it was destroyed in the attacks, Lampard said: "It's a huge memorial and I will certainly go there to pay my respects."

Lampard left Chelsea in June after making 649 appearances for the club and scoring a club-record 211 goals.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1814 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1774 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1082 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 459 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 186 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE