Daniel Maldini faces driving ban after Milan crash leaves six injured

Daniel Maldini is facing legal consequences after police tests found he had been driving in Milan with an alcohol level almost twice Italy’s legal limit, hours after scoring the decisive penalty in Cagliari’s 2-1 win over Atalanta.

The crash happened at about 05:15 on Sunday, less than 12 hours after Maldini’s spot-kick secured a valuable victory for Cagliari in Bergamo.

The 24-year-old was driving a Porsche Carrera when it collided with another vehicle in Milan. Six people suffered minor injuries in the incident, including Maldini, who was taken to hospital for medical checks before being discharged later that day.

Local police sources quoted by Reuters said the first breathalyser test conducted at the scene recorded an alcohol level of 0.91 grams per litre. A second test returned a reading of 0.89 grams per litre.

The legal limit for drivers in Italy is 0.5 grams per litre.

Maldini’s driving licence was suspended immediately after the positive result. He also underwent a drugs test, with Cagliari confirming on Monday that the result was entirely negative.

The club said Maldini would return to training as normal as he prepared for upcoming matches. However, an Italian security source quoted by Reuters said the official police drugs test would not be available for another three or four days.

Maldini had scored from the penalty spot to complete Cagliari’s comeback victory against Atalanta, with the result coming in Bergamo just hours before the incident.

The attacking midfielder previously played for Milan, Atalanta and Lazio before joining Cagliari. He has won six caps for Italy and remains one of the emerging names in Italian football.

Maldini also carries the weight of a famous footballing surname. He is the son of former Milan and Italy defender Paolo Maldini, regarded as one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game.

The incident places the younger Maldini under scrutiny both for the potential legal consequences of the driving offence and for the circumstances surrounding the crash. But Cagliari have confirmed that the drugs screening conducted after the accident produced a negative result, while the formal police findings remain pending.