Roma’s Gervinho ‘tried to smuggle woman on plane’

ROMA striker Gervinho has reportedly been caught up in a scandal in the Ivory Coast, after apparently attempting to smuggle a woman to Italy on board a private jet.

Roma striker Gervinho takes on Vasili Berezutski of CSKA Moscow during the Champions League match. Picture: AP

Gervinho, formerly of Arsenal and Lille, had played for the Ivory Coast in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon, helping them to a 0-0 draw that secured their place in next year’s finals.

Roma had laid on a private jet for the 27-year-old Gervinho to return to Italy from Ivorian capital Abidjan in order to play in their Champions League match against Russian side CSKA Moscow.

However, despite bribing four airport workers to allow the unidentified woman onto the flight, Gervinho’s plan was foiled by the pilot.

The player reportedly tried to persuade the pilot to depart with the extra passenger, who refused on the grounds that he had strict instructions to return with only Gervinho.

The four members of staff who Gervinho is said to have bribed lost their jobs after being fired by authorities.

Gervinho played 77 minutes of Roma’s 1-1 draw with CSKA Moscow on Tuesday evening.