Soccer star and family gassed and robbed at home near Cannes

FRENCH police were yesterday hunting burglars who used gas to knock out soccer star Patrick Vieira and his wife and daughter during a raid on the family home near Cannes.

The gas was pumped into the house to keep the occupants asleep — but after a health check, the 29-year old former Arsenal player, now with Juventus, was back in training for the French World Cup team.

His wife Cheryl and daughter Cheries, were recovering at home, and police said there should be no long-term medical effects of the drugging.

“There was a break-in at Mr Vieira’s home, during which jewellery was stolen,” said a police spokesman in Cannes. “The burglars then escaped in Mr Vieira’s Mercedes.”

The €58,000 car was later found abandoned along the French coast in Nice, and police said there was no evidence that the thieves had deliberately targeted the Vieira family.

The gas attack was only confirmed after the Vieira family complained of feeling unwell when they awoke to find the house had been raided. Police scientists found evidence that gas had been pumped into the air conditioning system.

The police spokesman said the full value of the stolen jewellery was unknown.

“We are now involved in a hunt for these burglars and we cannot say if they knew this was the home of the footballer or not,” added the spokesman.

Police in Nice and Cannes are working together on the case. The tough midfielder, who recently won a league metal with Juventus, has 84 caps for France.