Banks: My family were in tears at hoax report of my death

An angry Gordon Banks yesterday described how his great-grandson was “crying all day” following hoax reports of the death of the World Cup legend.

England’s 1966 hero was forced in October to declare himself alive and well after a story appeared on a website called City Herald claiming the 79-year-old had passed away “at his home in Sheffield”. It even said his death had been confirmed by his wife, Ursula, following his yearslong battle with kidney cancer.

Speaking ahead of today’s World Cup draw in Moscow, at which he will be one of the assistants, Banks said: “I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t see it but somebody just phoned the house asking my family about me. It was a disgrace.

“I just could not believe anybody would think of doing something like that. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

“My great grandson saw it at school. One of the children told him and he couldn’t stop crying. He was crying all day at school. What a thing to happen. It was disgusting. Nobody has apologised.”

Banks revealed he was still having treatment for cancer, adding: “I’m fine. I’m battling away.”

Meanwhile, Gary Lineker has defended being paid to co-host today’s World Cup draw by declaring: “If [Sepp] Blatter had still been in charge, I would not have done it.”

Lineker, who has been a strong critic of Fifa, has faced accusations of hypocrisy since being announced last month as the surprise choice to present the ceremony in Moscow alongside Russian journalist Maria Komandnaya. The Match of the Day host and BT Sport presenter, who will also anchor the BBC’S World Cup coverage, has accused it of being a “revolting organisation” and behaving like a dictatorship with “nauseating” levels of “corruption”.

He has been less critical since Blatter was ousted as Fifa president. “If Blatter had still been in charge, I would not have done it,” he said. “It is only fair to give them the opportunity.”