Ex-football star Paul Gasgoine injured in brawl at hotel

49 year old suffered a head injury in the fight last night and is stable in hospital

Published 28th Dec 2016

Former football star Paul Gascoigne was taken to hospital after an alcohol-fuelled fight at a hotel, it has been reported.

Gascoigne, 49, was "racially abusing'' customers at the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch, east London, and throwing money at them, according to a witness.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to a disturbance at the hotel shortly after 6pm on Tuesday before a 49-year-old man was taken to hospital with a head injury.

Witness Alvin Carpio said the former England and Rangers striker, who has long-battled alcoholism, appeared "very drunk'' during the altercation.

He tweeted: "Gazza has just been kicked down the stairs by a guy whose friend got slapped by him. He really isn't in a good place.

"It's a sad state: He's been spitting, making racist remarks & groping women, all while throwing around # notes.

"He was racially abusing my mates, and hitting one of them on the shoulder and head before throwing a ÂŁ20 note on him.''

Gascoigne's spokesman, Terry Baker, said the troubled star had been taken to hospital with a head wound, according to the Daily Mirror.

Mr Baker added: "He hasn't been arrested. He's about to be released and sent home.''

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "The man has been taken to an east London hospital where he remains in a stable condition.''

No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing, she added.

Gascoigne was fined ÂŁ1,000 at Dudley Magistrates' Court in September after racially abusing a bodyguard who was employed to protect him.