Frank Lampard plans to visit September 11 memorial site

LONDON - New York City FC's new signing Frank Lampard has revealed that he intends to visit the city's memorial to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Lampard and three team-mates were fined by Premier League club Chelsea in 2001 after participating in a drinking binge in front of American tourists in a hotel near London's Heathrow Airport just a day after the attacks.

The 36-year-old midfielder, who joined New York City on a two-year deal on Thursday, has expressed remorse over the incident and says he intends to visit the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to pay his respects.

"I categorically did not set out to insult anyone or behave badly in front of the Americans and this is an excellent chance to say that," he told Friday's edition of British newspaper the Daily Mail.

"I'm very sensitive to the issue and the tragedy. I was naive and a young boy at the time. I was out on a day I shouldn't have been. I certainly wouldn't do it today.

"I've tried in the last 13 years at Chelsea to be not just a good footballer, but a good man off the pitch."

Asked if he would visit the memorial, which is located where the World Trade Center stood until it was destroyed in the attacks, Lampard said: "It's a huge memorial and I will certainly go there to pay my respects."

Lampard left Chelsea in June after making 649 appearances for the club and scoring a club-record 211 goals.