Second England player in a week wins gagging order over private life

A second England footballer has won a gagging order preventing revelations about his private life being reported in the media.

The multi-millionaire father, who is in a long-term relationship, won the restrictive order last night banning a woman from publicising personal details about him. He was the second England player in a week to do so.

A similar injunction was granted to a fellow international last week after he discovered a newspaper was planning an expose details of his private life.

The footballer, who earns around £100,000 a week and has played for several top clubs, is the fourth sports star this year to take legal steps to prevent public scrutiny.

Critics said he is part of an increasing trend which allows highly paid sports stars with access to expensive lawyers to exercise legal rights denied to ordinary members of the public.

Last week it emerged golfer Colin Montgomerie won an injunction against a tabloid newspaper, following claims allegedly involving his former girlfriend, Paula Tagg.

In January John Terry unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the reporting of details about his alleged affair with French underwear model Vanessa Perroncel, the ex-partner of fellow England defender Wayne Bridge.

Terry was stripped of the England captaincy after the injunction was lifted and his identity revealed.