Scots block Gazza from Hall of Fame

ENGLAND legend Paul Gascoigne has had his nomination for the Scottish Football Hall of Fame suddenly withdrawn just days before he was due to be inducted. Gascoigne, 51, was listed for an awards dinner at Hampden Park next Sunday after being proposed by the public and chosen by a panel. But controversially, the ex-Rangers star will no longer be put forward, with the Hall of Fame’s committee citing ‘concerns over the state of Paul’s health’. However, this follows reports that a number of the Scottish Football Association’s board members were set to boycott the dinner because of concerns over Gascoigne’s suitability for the honour. His association with incidents of domestic

abuse, racism and sectarianism led some SFA members to turn down their invitation to the ceremony. During his time at Ibrox in 1996, the midfielder was condemned following an assault on his former wife Sheryl. Gascoigne was fined £1,000 in 2016 for racially abusing a black security guard in Wolverhampton. He has battled alcohol and mental health problems and in August was arrested over allegations of inappropriately touching a woman. A statement from the Hall of Fame read: ‘Due to concerns over the state of Paul’s health, it has been decided to withdraw (his) nomination.’ Gascoigne would have become the latest nonScottish player to win the honour — after Terry Butcher, Brian Laudrup and Henrik Larsson.