This file photo shows Chile’s national football team player Arturo Vidal attending a training session in Santiago.

DPA/Santiago

Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal was arrested Wednesday, hours after being unhurt in a traffic accident while he was under the influence of alcohol, Chile’s military police confirmed.
The Juventus player crashed his Ferrari on a motorway around 25 kilometres out of Santiago, as he returned to Chile’s Copa America headquarters in La Serena.
Police Colonel Ricardo Gonzalez said Vidal, 28, was driving at the time of the accident and tested positive for alcohol. He did not give details as to his alcohol level, however.
“He is under arrest and waiting to be taken to court tomorrow (Thursday),” Gonzalez said.
Vidal’s red Ferrari suffered serious damage in the crash with another vehicle on a road connecting Santiago with southern Chile, state-run broadcaster TVN reported.
Vidal was returning from a casino, accompanied by his wife, after an afternoon off following Chile’s 3-3 draw with Mexico on Monday.
Vidal has slight injuries, while his wife’s condition was worse but she had no serious wounds, the police spokesman said.
“Both drivers were tested for alcohol, and the red car’s driver tested positive,” Gonzalez said.
Vidal and his wife were taken to a healthcare centre in Buin, near Santiago, for a check-up after the crash. The two were fit enough to walk into the clinic, Chilean media reported, citing eyewitnesses.
The cause of the accident was under investigation, but Vidal insisted he was not to blame.
“I had a traffic accident today, it wasn’t my fault, I am fine, my family too, and thanks for everything,” Vidal said Wednesday, in a video he posted on Twitter.
Players were supposed to be back at Chile’s headquarters at 11 pm Tuesday (0200 GMT Wednesday). Vidal was the only player who did not make it back on time.
Chile playmaker Jorge Valdivia denied on Twitter rumours that he had been at the casino with Vidal.
“With my family, and on top of that we were interviewed for a programme,” Valdivia posted. “Please don’t pass on false information.”
This is not the first time Vidal has disciplinary problems with Chile. In 2011, Vidal, Valdivia, Carlos Carmona, Jean Beausejour and Gonzalo Jara were accused by then-coach Claudio Borghi of having turned up for national team duty 45 minutes late and in a state that was “indefensible and inappropriate for a professional sportsman.”
The players admitted they had been drinking, but they argued they had been at the baptism celebration for Valdivia’s youngest child.
Vidal’s arrest is a major blow for Chile, who hope to lift at home the first Copa America trophy in their history. He is the tournament’s top scorer so far, with three goals in two games.
Chile have already qualified for the knock-out stage and play Bolivia on Friday hoping to secure top spot in Group A.
According to Chilean TV channel Tele 13, Vidal may face a prison term for drink driving.