Lionesses ace Khiara Keating was found guilty of not paying her car tax just hours after lifting the Euro 2025 title with England on Sunday. Keating, who is on the books of Manchester City, was England’s back-up goalkeeper during their triumphant European Championship campaign.
The 21-year-old was snapped on stage during the Lionesses’ trophy celebrations and enjoyed a visit to Downing Street earlier this week. But, the England women’s star was slapped with a £440 fine by the court, and ordered to pay back duty of £79.17 and £20 costs, after being stopped driving a Volkswagen Polo without the correct tax in December last year.
Keating’s case was heard in her absence, after she failed to attend the hearing at Tameside magistrates. The goalkeeper was stopped driving in Bury, Greater Manchester and was informed her tax had expired four months earlier.
It comes after the police dropped a charge of possessing nitrous oxide canisters in June, just before the Euros got underway. After the charges were dropped, Keating told the BBC: “I’m relieved the charges have been dropped. As I’ve always said, I did nothing wrong. It’s been a difficult time, but I’ve always known the truth. Now I’m just looking forward to focusing fully on the Euros and spending time with my family.”
Focus on the Euros she did, with Keating making up part of the historic Lionesses side who became the first England senior side to retain a major tournament. While she didn’t play a minute in Switzerland, Keating made up an important part of the squad and was quick to pile the praise on team-mate Michelle Agyemang, following the teenager’s heroic equaliser against Italy.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she said: “Mich is Mich, I think she’s such a good person to have in the team. You know what you’re going to get hard work goals. At such a young age, it’s an inspiration to see. Someone my age, a little bit younger, is going out and scoring goals that could’ve sent us home if she didn’t score.”
On her character: “Mich always has that underlying confidence, she might not be the loudest one in the group or the one that’s walking with her chest held high. But she always knows what she has to do and she’s very good at it.” Joking, Keating concluded: “I’m the loud one, she’s the quiet one.”
Keating will now have a period of time away from football before she returns to City training ahead of the new Women’s Super League season. The Blues get their campaign underway against reigning champions Chelsea on Friday, September 5.