Aston Villa captain Grealish apologises for breaking social distancing rules

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish reacts [Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith]

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish posted a public apology on Monday for breaking UK government guidelines on social distancing as police opened an investigation into an incident in which a Range Rover crashed into parked cars.

Villa expressed their disappointment with Grealish and said the 24-year-old will be fined with the proceeds going to a children's hospital in Birmingham.

West Midlands Police said they were called on Sunday to an address in Solihull, near Birmingham, where the two parked cars suffered minor damage.

The force said the driver had left his details with a member of the public before leaving on foot.

"I just want to do a quick video message to say how deeply embarrassed I am about what has happened this weekend," Grealish said in a video posted on Twitter.

"I obviously just got a call off a friend asking to go round to his and stupidly agreed to do so. I don't want anyone to make the same mistake that I did, so I urge everyone to stay home and follow the rules and guidelines of what we are being asked to do."

The British government has introduced restrictions on citizens leaving their homes only to shop for food and medicine, essential travel for work and one form of exercise a day to help halt the spread of coronavirus.