Klien Denies Assault Charges

By Ian Lockwood
February 21 2006

Red Bull Racing driver Christian Klien has issued a statement denying that he assaulted a man in an Austrian night club and that stories that said he had been charged with an offence were also untrue.

A story appeared in the Vorarlberger Nachrichten newspaper claiming that on the evening of February 11th, Christian Klien injured a man during a fight at the "Enjoy" Discotheque  in Altach. The paper went on to say that the man had pressed charges against the F1 driver. The story then went on to claim that Klien had left the club, refusing to pay his bar bill and had subsequently been banned from returning.

Klien who has denied all the allegations issued the following statement...

"The partially distorted and incorrect reports published in recent days in various media
have prompted me to issue the following clarification. I have not been banned from the discotheque 'Enjoy' in Altach. The 'Enjoy' licencee/owner has explicitly confirmed this in an email addressed to me on 20 February 2006.

On 11 February 2006 I was confronted, in the discotheque 'Enjoy', with a bill for EUR 150.00, which in my opinion bore no relation either to the items which I ordered or were ordered on my behalf. I therefore initially declined to pay, explaining that I would seek clarification from the manager.

It is therefore absurd and offensive to speak of 'payment evasion'. The sum was paid following the afore-mentioned clarification with the manager.

I was not involved in any fight in the 'Enjoy' on 11 February 2006. I therefore did not injure any guest of this establishment. The statement to the contrary made by the allegedly injured party constitutes defamation.

This is a matter of principle: I enjoy inviting my friends; but not those who pose as my friends, when they are not. I am sure that anyone can understand this point."