Chelsea players Antonio Rudiger, Ross Barkley and Callum Hudson-Odoi all convicted of speeding on the A3 in the space of four days

EXCLUSIVE: Three players convicted ahead of team's Europa League win Centre-back Antonio Rudiger could face driving ban after being caught at over 100mph
Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger was caught driving at between 101mph and 109mph on a section of the A3 dual carriageway that has a 70mph limit
PA
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A hat-trick of Chelsea stars were convicted of speeding in the build-up to last week’s Europa League triumph, the Standard can reveal.

Centre-back Antonio Rudiger, midfielder Ross Barkley and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi were all caught flouting speed limits in the space of four days in January, on the same stretch of the A3 leading from the club’s Cobham training ground into central London.

Rudiger, 25, could face a driving ban after he was clocked at more than 100mph in a limited edition Mercedes sports car. Barkley and Hudson-Odoi were both handed fines and penalty points by magistrates.

The trio pleaded guilty to the speeding offences at Bromley magistrates’ court just days before Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final in Baku, Azerbaijan last Wednesday.

Rudiger, who is sidelined with a knee injury and missed the final, was caught driving at between 101mph and 109mph on a section of the A3 dual carriageway that has a 70mph limit.

Chelsea's Ross Barkley was caught doing 58mph in a 40mph limit
AP

The Germany international’s agent tried to play down the offence when contacted by the Standard, even suggesting that Rudiger “doesn’t drive”. But Rudiger entered a written guilty plea to the charge and faces a court hearing on June 25.

He was caught speeding on January 28, the same day that Hudson-Odoi was recorded driving his £50,000 Land Rover at 64mph on a stretch with a 50mph limit near the training ground.

The 18-year-old, who was Chelsea’s young player of the year, was fined £700, told to pay £170 in court costs and fees, and given three penalty points on his licence.

Hudson-Odoi was recorded driving his £50,000 Land Rover at 64mph on a stretch with a 50mph limit
EPA

England midfielder Barkley, 25, was caught by another A3 speed camera on January 24, as he drove a £182,000 Bentley Bentayga through Putney. He pleaded guilty to going at 58mph in a 40mph limit, just hours before Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-1 in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Magistrates also fined him £700, with £170 court costs and fees, and put four penalty points on his driving licence. None of the footballers had to go to court as the hearings were held behind closed doors under the Ministry of Justice’s Single Justice Procedure. This process was introduced in 2015 to deal quickly with low-level offending, but is criticised for lacking transparency.

Rudiger might have to attend court this month when magistrates consider whether to disqualify him, in a hearing expected to be held in open court.

The footballers’ former teammate, Cesc Fabregas, is fighting claims that he flouted the speed limit on the A3 twice in six months last year. He has hired celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole, for a trial due to be heard later this year.

Chelsea FC declined to comment on the convictions.

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