Paul Gascoigne in court accused of racially aggravated offence
FOOTBALLING legend Paul Gascoigne is due to appear in court today accused of a racially aggravated offence.
The former international midfielder has been summoned to appear before magistrates accused of racially aggravated abuse at one of his ‘An Evening With Gazza’ shows last autumn.
The proceedings follow a police investigation into a complaint made about the former footballer allegedly making a joke about a black bouncer during the event in Wolverhampton Civic Hall last November.
The 49-year-old will appear at Dudley Magistrates' Court, Dudley, West Midlands.
The former Tottenham and Rangers star signed autographs for fans waiting outside court before going inside with his solicitor.
The star is accused of using abusive or insulting words, causing racially aggravated harassment and alarm on November 30 last year.
Gascoigne wore a navy suit and open-necked shirt as he arrived at court.
The former footballer had been told he would not be charged, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) later reversed its decision.
Gascoigne was described as the most gifted footballer of his generation at his peak in the 1990s.
The former midfielder, originally from Gateshead, has suffered bouts of alcoholism since retiring.
Earlier this year the star was photographed stumbling around and clutching bottles of gin but has since insisted he was “back to his best after a two-day blip”.
Gascoigne, often dubbed as Gazza by his fans, made 57 appearances for England and scored 10 goals.