Daily Star Sunday

Footie fans tear a strip off Gazza

LEGEND GETS BOOED

- N by ROBIN COTTLE robin.cottle@dailystar.co.uk

FOOTBALL legend Paul Gascoigne was booed on stage after turning up to an event the “worse for wear”.

The ex-Newcastle United star was in his native North East to meet and greet fans with fellow Toon great Peter Beardsley, 57.

But guests branded his appearance “cringewort­hy” and claimed the gig should have been cancelled.

One shouted: “You’re a disgrace” at Gazza while another joked: “Are you p ***** as well, Peter?”

Gazza, 51, then whipped off his shirt and launched into an expletive-ridden rant.

Revealing his bare chest, he told his fans:

“I’m 51!”

Steve Wraith, who organised the night for the Newcastle Legends organisati­on, claimed guests should not have been surprised.

He tweeted: “Really not sure what people expect from a Gazza show. You have 3 options.

“1. Turns up and is great like 2010 and 2015.

“2. Cancels prior to the event.

“3. Turns up worse for wear on medication/alcohol or both.

“Like every event you pay your money and take a chance with it.” He said Gazza’s agent told him the former Three Lions ace was suffering with a virus beforehand.

He added: “Paul turned up a little worse for wear. I could not say why he was worse for wear – it could have been the antibiotic­s.”

But Gazza hit back at his critics. He wrote: “I’m f***ing fuming ask the hotel the receptioni­st they wanted 2 call a doctor out ask my sister. I’m not perfect I’m not allowed2fe­el unwell now & again.”

He also tweeted: “Just want to say I enjoyed last night with everyone in my home town but so sorry it took hrs to speak to you’s it was out of my hands, but I appreciate the wait AND YOUR patience love from GAZZA X.” Supporters paid at least £60 to see Gazza and Beardsley. The event was at the Lancastria­n Suite in the star’s home town of Gateshead.

Some fans shelled out £200 to pose for a photo and have memorabili­a signed. Several backed their hero online, but others were furious at what happened.

One wrote: “There’s only so much sympathy you can give to Gazza. Couldn’t string a sentence together.” Another moaned: “Last night Paul Gascoigne broke a 35-year-old’s heart.” A third added: “Sad to see. What did they expect?”

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