" PAUL GASCOIGNE/VERY SAD "

" Shocking pictures of bloodied Gazza spark new fears for tragic England ace "

Very sad, photos below

The Sun

26/03/16

TROUBLED Paul Gascoigne smashed his forehead, nose and lip while drunk and sparked fears he is losing his long battle with booze.

The battered ex-Newcastle, Spurs and England great was seen stumbling from a taxi at lunchtime, clutching a bottle of gin.

Worried neighbours called police but he had vanished from his seafront pad by the time they arrived.

Officers launched a missing persons investigation before he was spotted in another cab, at one point accidentally exposing himself as he struggled to keep his trousers up.

Fans feared the worst for Gazza just days after another footie legend, Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff, died aged 68.

Gazza returned to his home in Poole, Dorset, 2½ hours after the first police visit and called in paramedics. He was put in the back of a patrol car and driven to hospital.

One source said: “He looked a right mess. I fear there could be a very tragic end for him.”

Tuesday’s incident came two weeks after the 48-year-old boasted he had been sober for a year.

He said he was on a radical “Marmite” cure in which he was put on a drip of niacin, a vitamin found in the spread, during fortnightly treatments at a private clinic in Hertfordshire. He said: “It’s given me hope.”

He had planned to mentor alcoholics, but neighbours said he had been spiralling out of control for weeks.

One said: “He apparently wanted a taxi to drop off booze and fags for him. But the cabbie left because he couldn’t even stand up.”

Last night former Spurs teammate Gary Mabbutt told The Sun: “I knew things had started to go wrong last week.

“Generally we speak or text every couple of days and I haven’t been able to get hold of him. I generally know something is up when I don’t hear from him.

“Paul has been having a really good spell. We had him dry for the last five or six months. It was one of the longest times, a fantastic spell of late.

“He has had a relapse and has been taken in for his own welfare. He is being looked after.

“Unfortunately for people with these conditions there is always a chance a relapse may occur.”

Geordie Gazza, capped 57 times for England, has fought alcohol problems since he retired from the game 12 years ago.

He has had seven stints in rehab including one in America in March 2013 after celeb friends forked out £30,000 for his treatment.

He has been sectioned twice, in 2008 and 2014, but it is understood that is not the case this time.

Mabbutt, 54, said: “As far as I’m aware he’s just gone in and he’s being looked after. It’s being treated as someone who has this condition and has had the relapse.

“There are things in place that have been set up — there is a support network. That is what has taken place over the last few days. Hopefully they will get him through. Hopefully the rehab and going to counselling will continue to help.” He went on: “There has always been a huge amount of support to back Paul up.

“Over the years that support has been provided by Tottenham or by the Professional Footballers’ Association, or the FA — there have been a lot of people who have pulled together to support him.

“Paul had been doing really well and had been looking really well.

“Unfortunately relapses can occur and when they do occur you just hope they are a little blip"

" Low point for legend "

By CAROL COOPER, Sun Doctor

GAZZA’S long-running battle with drink is well known. There have been hundreds of photos showing his decline but these are the most shocking I’ve seen.

He’s not even 50 yet his body is wasted and stooped.

His face bears a number of cuts, grazes and bruises.

This is the picture of alcoholic neglect, with injuries from fights, falls, or both.

I’m sure medics can patch up the outward signs, but Gazza’s internal organs must be seriously affected by now.

I fear he’s too far gone. The final whistle can’t be far away.

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:shock:

Very very sad and what a great player

Thought he was dead then.

:shock:

Shocking & very sad Steve

Very very sad and what a great player

Terribly sad Annis

Very very sad and what a great player

Terribly sad Annis

Mason, its virtually a tragedy and just so sad to see, such a great great footballer look like this.

Will be no surprise when, ( like George Best ), the news is announced he has snuffed it.

Very very sad ou this week watched the documentary, for Me growing the most naturally gifted player from these shores, never quite maximised it due to the injuries and abuse off it. Matter of time am afraid.

Very very sad ou this week watched the documentary, for Me growing the most naturally gifted player from these shores, never quite maximised it due to the injuries and abuse off it. Matter of time am afraid.

Agree with you.
He was always my favourite player and I saw him play live a few times. Different class and like you say it was just pure natural talent.
Like Best, he seems on a collision course and doesn't seem able to help himself at all.
From those pics it looks like someone has hit him.

Very very sad and what a great player

Terribly sad Annis

Mason, its virtually a tragedy and just so sad to see, such a great great footballer look like this.

I agree Annis

Loved watching gazza as a kid growing up. Seen his documentaries and read his books all very good funny and sad at the same time. In the game at the wrong time, maybe if he had played now he would have better support and less of a drinking culture after the game.

Get well soon Gazza.

Will be no surprise when, ( like George Best ), the news is announced he has snuffed it.

Very sad but let's hope he gets well soon

Very very sad ou this week watched the documentary, for Me growing the most naturally gifted player from these shores, never quite maximised it due to the injuries and abuse off it. Matter of time am afraid.

Very sad, let's hope he has a speedy recovery

Loved watching gazza as a kid growing up. Seen his documentaries and read his books all very good funny and sad at the same time. In the game at the wrong time, maybe if he had played now he would have better support and less of a drinking culture after the game.

He was a huge talent & its sad to see him in this state, let's hope he gets well soon

Really sad to see such a great talent and character end up this way, the more you see images like this the more you believe his death will be soon.

Really sad to see such a great talent and character end up this way, the more you see images like this the more you believe his death will be soon.

It's very upsetting Carl, a huge talent in such a state. Let's hope he has a speedy recovery

Really sad to see such a great talent and character end up this way, the more you see images like this the more you believe his death will be soon.

It's very upsetting Carl, a huge talent in such a state. Let's hope he has a speedy recovery

Indeed Mason

Probably one of the best players of my generation

So sad to see but he just dont want help

Very sad indeed

Thought he was dead then.

Sadly he won't be long.

Find it sad that people are still serving him.Where are all his old friends now?

Probably one of the best players of my generation

So sad to see but he just dont want help

Very sad indeed

Terribly sad, let's hope he has a speedy recovery x

Obviously being a Rangers Fan I loved Gazza playing and he's left me great memories, I used to write for a fanzine and many years ago when I suggested he was an alcoholic the editor refused to print it. Nobody would question it today, as we watch his personal tragedy unfold before us. Sadly I think it's only a matter of time till the drink kills him. I was fortunate to see George Best when the City played Fulham and Gazza is following the same pattern.

Loved watching gazza as a kid growing up. Seen his documentaries and read his books all very good funny and sad at the same time. In the game at the wrong time, maybe if he had played now he would have better support and less of a drinking culture after the game.

He was a huge talent & its sad to see him in this state, let's hope he gets well soon

Let's hope so mason