Gascoigne 'sectioned after binge'

Medics sectioned the 47-year-old former England, Tottenham and Newcastle footballer under the Mental Health Act at 3am on Friday after a drinking binge, according to The Sun.

A spokesman for Spurs said: "We are aware of the situation with Paul and continue to offer our support."

His close friend and former Tottenham team-mate Gary Mabbutt said: "Paul hasn't been well for the past couple of weeks, he wants to get better and he's asked for help. He is being looked after very well - he has got a lot of support around him."

Mabbutt said he could not confirm the report that Gascoigne had been sectioned.

The newspaper reported that police were called to Gascoigne's home in Poole, Dorset, at around 3.30pm on Thursday. Officers were with him when he went to hospital early on Friday.

It quoted a source as saying: "Paul arrived at hospital at about 3am surrounded by police and doctors. He was not in a good state and they were really worried about him. He had been medically assessed during the afternoon before and was deemed to be okay.

"Then something obviously happened. He was put on a three-day detox."

Police had no comment about the incident.