West Brom launches investigation amid reports players stole taxi in Barcelona

West Bromwich Albion has opened an investigation into an "incident" involving four players amid allegations in The Sun that they stole a taxi in Barcelona.

The club made few details public on Friday, only confirming the probe is focused on four senior players and that they will be "subject to the full rigours of our internal disciplinary procedures."

Alan Pardew later added the players had broken curfew on the night in question.

"We've gone there (Spain) to get ourselves up for the run-in. This isn't ideal. They broke curfew and I feel upset about that," the manager told reporters, according to the Birmingham Mail.

West Brom's statement arrived just hours after The Sun published a report by Gerard Couzens and Gary Stonehouse alleging that West Brom players had taken a taxi to a local McDonald's and driven off without the driver. They reportedly abandoned the cab outside their hotel before dawn Thursday morning, leading the receptionist to call Spanish police.

Manager Alan Pardew had hoped a warm-weather training retreat in Spain would boost West Brom's bid for Premier League survival, but The Telegraph's Johny Percy said the players were hesitant to make the trip.

It's just the latest bit of ill-gotten news to hit the Baggies in a short period of time. Earlier this week, West Brom announced the dismissals of chairman John Williams and chief executive Martin Goodman.

The West Midlands outfit - which faces Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday - is rooted at the bottom of the Premier League with a measly 20 points through 27 matches.