MANCHESTER CITY goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has kicked off another row with neighbours after building an “on-street” parking bay outside his £2million mansion.
The former Chelsea and Fulham stopper, 33, scored an own goal by tarmacing over the grass verge – without planning permission.
It comes just weeks after the City stopper dropped another clanger by chopping down 40ft trees at the front of his luxury pad in leafy Cobham, Surrey.
Almost half a dozen residents on the posh private estate near Chelsea’s Cobham training ground have objected to the “visually intrusive” development.
They also cited an “erosion of green landscape” and fear it will set a precedent for others to concrete over their grass verges.
Bettinelli says the parking bay is within the boundary of his four-bed pad, which boasts a cinema and games room, and has applied for retrospective consent.
But he could still face the red card from planners at the local council and be ordered to tear up the unauthorised groundwork.
In a letter, one objector wrote: “Parking on a verge is completely against the character of this estate and against its development guidelines.
“There are no parking bays on verges anywhere on the estate. It is an erosion of green landscape, replaced by tarmac.
“The property already has parking for multiple vehicles, having converted its entire garden to hardstanding. An additional parking bay is unnecessary.”
A second objector wrote: “The additional parking space introduces a visually intrusive expanse of tarmac, eroding the landscaped frontages that define the road and makes the street scene less attractive.
“If approved, this application would set a precedent for other properties to remove green frontages for additional parking, resulting in cumulative erosion of the estate’s character and streetscape.”
A third added: “Providing an on-street parking layby in an area where there are none and the large houses all around have ample space in their front gardens for all cars, is unnecessary.”
Bettinelli joined City in June for a nominal fee on a one-year contract after veteran keeper Scott Carson left the Etihad, followed by number one stopper Ederson.
He joined Chelsea in 2021 but went on to make just one appearance and had just a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
He bought his Surrey pad for £1.5million in 2023 but it is now believed to be worth £2million after he was given the go-ahead to build a kitchen and bedroom extension.
Papers filed at Elmbridge Council reveal that Bettinelli built the parking bay outside his home in February.
In a statement, his planning agent said: “The area in question falls entirely within the ownership boundary of the property and has been developed.
“The works undertaken are minimal in nature and have no impact on the surrounding properties, street scene or character of the area.
“The property owner was unaware that planning permission would be required for such minor alterations.”
Other former Chelsea footballers who live nearby include Petr Cech, Cesar Azpilicueta, Ben Chilwell, Armando Broja and Glen Johnson.
Officials are expected to make a decision later this month.
Sun Sport has reached out to Bettinelli’s reps for comment.
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