[roamer]

Former England star Paul Gascoigne sectioned
under Mental Health Act:


Former England soccer hero Paul Gascoigne has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act after he was said to be acting as a "potential menace" at a luxury hotel.

Gascoigne was detained after Northumbria Police were called to the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead on Wednesday night.

It followed an incident at the Malmaison Hotel in Newcastle hours earlier, where the hotel said the star made other guests and staff feel "threatened".

The 40-year-old has been treated numerous times for drink and mental health problems. Police said there were no injuries.

A spokeswoman for Malmaison said: "He was a potential menace to other guests who felt threatened by his behaviour so he was picked up by his sister and then he went to the Hilton."

She added: "He moved towards the night porter who felt threatened." But she said the night porter is now "absolutely fine" and will not be pressing charges.

She said Gascoigne had been "absolutely charming" during his stay at the hotel before the incident.

A spokeswoman for Hilton Hotels said Gascoigne had been there for only a day. She said there was no trouble before police arrived and he checked in on Wednesday morning.

Once regarded as one of the world's best footballers, Gascoigne's playing career was plagued by personal problems, many linked to his heavy drinking.

In 2005, he was hospitalised with pneumonia, sparking fears over his long-term health, and last year he
underwent emergency surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer. He has also had several run-ins with the police over the years.

[BigBadSi]

Lost his way big time,my faveourite footballer of all time,such a shame

[monsterman]

A genius failed by his own flaws and the pygmy muppets around him.

[Thebomb]

he's been sent to an institution for retards with no chance of recovery........."were glad to have him back" said keegan

[Elvis]

said in paper which i dont believe saying he was walking with 2 toy parrots and ordering plates of raw liver

[ferocious]

i bet he ain't got too many hangers on now , he was always a couple of clowns short of a circus but a genius on the pitch & if wasn't for a series of bad injuries(mostly self inflicted) he for me would have been in the top 5 all time greats... very sad

[old crust]

I have often wondered how he would have faired under the management of Ferguson or Wenger.

[Bilbobaggins]

Originally Posted by old crust

I have often wondered how he would have faired under the management of Ferguson or Wenger.

O.C. I read his autobiography (Gazzas) and funnily enough, when he left Newcastle, he agreed verbally to join Man Utd, the Fergie went away on holiday thinking the deal was all but signed and Spurs came in offering a LOT more cash in wages so he went there instead, I wonder how much he regretted that?
United at the time were just about to begin their dominance of the English game, with Gazza, they would have been even better.
I wonder though, had Fergie signed Gazza, would Cantona ever have gone there?
Gazza still gave me one of my favourite ever footballing moments when he lifted the ball over hendry and slotted it past Goram back in '96.
Get back on your feet soon Gazza

[soi 2]

I hope Gazza gets the help he needs.

Many great memories of him playing for Rangers. His hat trick against Aberdeen on the last day of the season to win the league. Still is the most impressive individual performance I've ever seen any player do in a match. Especially given the importance of it.

When Rino Gattuso signed for Rangers as an unknown teenager from Perugia. Gazza took him out and bought him some smart clothes and looked after him. Gattuso has achieved more in terms of trophies than Gazza managed - World Cup winner and European Cup. But still wears the number 8 when he plays.

Hopefully someone in the world of football can throw him a life line. I'd love to see him as pundit on one of the football programmes.

[butterflyblonde]

Originally Posted by Bilbobaggins

O.C. I read his autobiography (Gazzas) and funnily enough, when he left Newcastle, he agreed verbally to join Man Utd, the Fergie went away on holiday thinking the deal was all but signed and Spurs came in offering a LOT more cash in wages so he went there instead, I wonder how much he regretted that?

Probably a shit load.

Another question, given Fergie's renowned for being a bit of a disciplinarian, would he have managed to keep Gazza on the straight and narrow?

I guess we'll never know.