I agree - we should choose our role models wisely - footballers rarely provide good ones for how to live your life and treat others - by definition you've got to be pretty selfish to make it into such an elite profession.
You're confusing personal troubles, with public issues. As drivers they have a responsibility to the general public. They seem to have conveniently forgotten that. And, yes they do have a responsibility to their club, and its fans, because any untoward behaviour brings their club into disrepute. I work on a project at local semi pro football club. No one is allowed to wear so much as a tracksuit or pin badge if they bring the name of the club into disrepute. Pampered overpaid footballers shouldn't be allowed to hide from their responsibilities. If I was done for drink driving, I'd lose my job. They work in a high profile, public domain and get paid accordingly. That's why they are responsible beyond their immediate selfish selves.
If they break the law when driving, they will face the consequences of that. They should feel no guilt that someone they've never met and don't care about is expecting something different from them. The law will deal with them and if I hope for more responsible driving from someone I worship, that's my problem.
But it becomes a public issue when the club its fans, and the wider public expects more, because they bring the club into disrepute. They, because of the nature of their job, have a public responsibility as well as a personal one, that is dissimilar to other more ordinary jobs. Can't expect the trappings of fame and then hide when they are caught out by them. I had to sit through hours of sociology of sport lectures at Warwick University based on this . (When personal troubles become public issues). There is an argument that sports stars are unfairly penalised by external expectation. Obviously I sit in the camp that says that they are paid well enough to be able to behave properly. You can argue all you like about whether it's a public issue, but the fact that it is all over the media and social media, makes it a public issue.
Didnt commit the alleged offence whilst our player. I think it's a lot less cut and dried in his instance
Fined 6 weeks wages, pair of em! Also ordered by the club to serve 80 hours community service and rehabilitation. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49941786
Today will hopefully be the day they are made an example of and locked up....... https://www.itv.com/news/central/20...ling-to-stop-at-scene-of-accident-near-derby/ Being football players in the public eye they will probably get a fine (which they can afford), community service (they train so few hours they have plenty of time for it) and a suspended sentence (second chance to behave), so no 'punishment' handed to them will mean anything. Unless of course they get banned from playing for a while so at least they will feel punished by not being allowed to play the game they love.