OFF BEAT: Scottish soccer player charged with insurance fraud

If Scottish soccer player Garry O’Connor has ever pleaded his way out of a red card during a match, he’d be well-served to put those skills to work in court as he prepares to face charges of insurance fraud.

According to a BBC report, Mr. O’Connor maintained his not-guilty plea at a pretrial hearing in a Haddington, Scotland, Sheriff Court on Thursday. He is accused of filing a bogus personal auto claim with Norwich, England-based insurer Aviva P.L.C. for more than $161,000, the BBC reported.

Mr. O’Connor told his insurer that his Ferrari F430 Spider F1 sustained extensive damage in a crash on April 30, 2011, according to the BBC.

But U.K. prosecutors say that account of events is likely not true, given that the car was found wrecked and abandoned on April 14, 2011, two weeks before Mr. O’Connor claims to have been in his accident, the BBC said.

It is believed that Mr. O’Connor lent the car to a friend, who crashed it into a railway bridge, according to the report.