FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Winger Darren Anderton has angrily denied claims that he was invloved in a brwl earlier this week. According to a newspaper report the Tottenham player was seen out drinking with friends in Bournemouth before a fight erupted in the early hours.

FA director of public affairs David Davies responded to the claims about Anderton in the Sun in an official FA statement:

“Following a story that we understand is appearing in one of tomorrow’s newspapers, Darren Anderton wants to make the following matters clear:

1) He was not, repeat not, involved in a fight in Bournemouth in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

2) He was not, repeat not, drunk or “boozed up”.

3) He had been out for dinner with family and friends where he drank a glass of wine. He later bought drinks for his friends and had a couple of beers.

Glenn Hoddle, the England coach, has accepted Darren Anderton’s version of events.”

Anderton is apparently now the third player to break Hoddle’s pre-France 98 curfew, following allegations surrounding Teddy Sheringham and Paul Gascoigne.

It was suggested that 32-year-old Sheringham had enjoyed a drunken night out at a Portuguese nightclub just days before the World Cup, with a story and pictures showing him drinking, smoking and cuddling a 20-year-old blonde.

This came after Hoddle had laid down the law when Gascoigne was caught out on the town with showbiz pals Rod Stewart, Chris Evans and Danny Baker three weeks ago, and then spotted eating a kebab in Soho in the early hours of the morning.

Gascoigne then openly admitted to getting drunk during a karaoke session at the England team’s hotel in La Manga last week on the night prior to Hoddle announcing his final squad. But it appears as if Hoddle will take no action against Anderton, whom many people believe is lucky to be heading for France after an injury-hit season.