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      in Soccer

      Marcus Rashford developed his taste for tequila after watching Netflix drama Narcos in lockdown

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      FOOTIE ace Marcus Rashford developed his taste for tequila after bingeing on hit series NarcosThe Manchester United star phoned in sick for training after a bender last week.
      Marcus Rashford developed his taste for tequila after bingeing on hit series NarcosCredit: Getty
      The Man United star phoned in sick for training after a bender last weekCredit: The Sun
      Rashford went for drinks at Lavery’s after arriving in Belfast
      A waitress said he asked for tequila with his lunch
      And he brought out his own bottle for dinner.
      We can reveal he started buying the Mexican hard stuff during lockdown, as he watched the Netflix drama based on Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar
      A source said: “Marcus loved Narcos and would binge-watch it, like lots of people.
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      “He saw episodes where they were drinking tequila and thought he’d give it a try so he began ordering on the internet.
      “He got a taste for it and started buying really expensive bottles, spending thousands having them imported from the US and Mexico.”
      Rashford’s favourite brands of tequila, made from the blue agave plant growing in the Mexican desert, include £50 to £80 bottles of Artenom Seleccion de 1146 and Patron.
      He was dropped for Sunday’s FA Cup win at Newport and fined two weeks’ wages of £650,000.
      Most read in Football
      But he was back for last night’s Prem match at Wolves and was soon on target, scoring after just four minutes.
      Warning by Gazza
      By Joe Morgan
      PAUL Gascoigne has warned Rashford to avoid the road he went down.Gazza, 56, battled with booze during his career.
      He said he was a fan of Marcus but “you can tell things are just not right for him right now”.
      He said: “I’d say to him, ‘Don’t make the same mistakes as me’. He may need the help of the players around him, the staff to bring him round.
      “Marcus is earning a fortune at one of the biggest clubs in the world, and everyone thinks you do not have a care in the world. But the ­pressure is not always easy.”

      Rashford started buying the Mexican hard stuff as he watched Narcos based on Colombian drug lord Pablo EscobarCredit: Netflix
      Rashford,’s favourite brands include £50-£80 bottles of Artenom Seleccion de 1146 and Patron More

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      in Boxing

      Saudi Arabia to open first alcohol store in 72 YEARS in Riyadh as boxing fans say ‘open casinos and Vegas is finished’

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      FIGHT-LOVERS are dreaming of Saudi Arabia rivalling Las Vegas for boxing as the country prepares to open its first alcohol store since 1952.Only diplomatic staff can use the new Riyadh shop – but fans wonder if the change will eventually filter through to ring nights and transform the atmosphere.
      Anthony Joshua beat Otto Wallin in Riyadh last monthCredit: Getty
      Only a select band of diplomats will be allowed to buy alcohol from the Riyadh store, which is set to open within weeksCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Saudi officials are launching the store for a small group of non-Muslim expats to combat “the illicit trade of alcohol” – as drink is currently often imported in diplomatic pouches.
      But one boxing fan joked: “Open some gambling establishments and Vegas is finished BIG time BOXING.”
      Another added: “Anybody know any diplomats out there for Fury v Usyk?”
      And a third posted: “The silent crowds at the new home of boxing, might only be a short term issue…”
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      But many fans were surprised by the development, with one saying: “Wow controversial”
      And others pointed out that, as the shop was for diplomats, any effects on boxing might take ages to filter through.
      Saudi Arabia’s keenness to become a superpower for mega bouts reached new heights in Riyadh on December 23 last year.
      On a heavyweight card hailed as one of the greatest ever, Anthony Joshua beat Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker stunned Deontay Wilder.
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      It comes as Saudi chiefs block YouTube boxing – which is a blow to social media stars like KSI, Jake Paul and Tommy Fury.
      His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi, controls boxing in the region.
      And he told DAZN: “Please, we don’t want any YouTuber fight again. I don’t talk about names.
      “I want fighters, I want fighters, this is what I support.” More

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      in Soccer

      Former England manager Sam Allardyce labelled a ‘pioneer’ with pints of wine to hit ‘UK shelves for first time’

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      SAM ALLARDYCE was hailed a “pioneer” after pints of wine got the green light to go on sale in the UK for the first time in 50 years.As exclusively revealed by The Sun, the new legislation is set to come in next year.
      Sam Allardyce received plenty of praise after pints of wine were legalised in the UKCredit: PA

      It will see still and sparkling wine available to buy at supermarkets, pubs, clubs and restaurants in 568ml bottles.
      And that immediately prompted plenty of football fans to heap praise on Allardyce and credit him for the change.
      Big Sam was famously spotted drinking a pint of wine in undercover footage as part of the sting operation that saw the then-England boss get sacked in 2016.
      One supporter said: “Sam Allardyce is a pioneer.”
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      Another wrote: “Sam Allardyce walked so we could run / fall over.”
      A third added: “Sam Allardyce finally getting his way.”
      A fourth commented: “If his name was Sam Allardici we’d have started selling pints of wine 15 years ago.”
      A fifth quipped: “I’m not quite sure who wanted this in 2016 (apart from Big Sam obviously!) but there you go.”
      Most read in Football
      A sixth joked: “Big Sam just knee-slid through his kitchen.”
      And a final user replied: “Big day for Big Sam.”
      Allardyce, 69, had a record-breaking 30-day stint as Leeds boss last season but could not keep them in the Premier League and now remains without a club.
      Champagne in the imperial 568ml bottles was a favourite of Winston Churchill, who claimed it was “enough for two at lunch and one at dinner”.
      However, the champagne volume was outlawed in 1973 when Britain joined the European Common Market – while still wine has never before been sold in pint size in the UK.
      Now the Department for Business and Trade have confirmed the U-turn following Brexit – with the change providing extra choice for customers.
      Still wine will also become available in 200ml containers while sparkling wine can go in 500ml bottles – both new additions.
      And it means there will be just a 68ml difference between two of the sizes while regular full 750ml and half 375ml bottles continue.
      That is despite a consultation with 100,000 responses from 2022 showing 98.7 per cent favoured using metric units when buying or selling products, either as the primary unit of sale (as currently) or as the sole unit of sale (purely metric).
      The Government said: “The move to introduce the 568ml size would sit alongside the 200ml and 500ml measures already available, offering more flexibility and choice for customers.

      “The UK’s wine sector is set for the boost as part of the Government’s smarter regulation programme to ensure regulations are up to date and agile.”
      UK wine businesses produce around 12.2 million bottles of still and sparkling wine per year.
      The new measurements will see still and sparkling wine sold in 568ml bottlesCredit: Alamy More

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      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton reveals he’s quit booze and ‘may never drink again’ as struggling F1 legend slams peer pressure

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed he’s given up alcohol as he looks to transform his fortunes in Formula One.The seven-time world champion has criticised the peer pressure involved with booze despite his vast world experience.
      Lewis Hamilton has revealed he’s quit alcohol for goodCredit: Getty
      The seven-time world champion declared there’s too much pressure involvedCredit: Getty
      Hamilton recently launched a new non-alcoholic tequila drink, with the Brit expanding his empire off the track.
      The 38-year-old has now revealed he’s gone sober as he looks to get back to his best following Red Bull’s dominance over the past two seasons.
      Hamilton admitted he’s seeking “that extra one per cent”, as he continues to perform at the top level of the sport.
      The British legend told Vogue: “I don’t know if I’m going to drink again.
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      “Since I’ve stopped drinking, I’ve just been feeling so much better, so much more clarity.
      “There is pressure to drink within a social setting. You have one shot and feel like ‘Damn, why did I do that?’ when you get home.
      “I was like, wow, that’s kind of crazy how I’m feeling pressured.
      “And I realised, how can I be feeling pressure at 38? Imagine young 18 year olds.”
      Most read in Motorsport
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      Hamilton has endured another frustrating season with Mercedes, with the British star lying third in the World Championship standings.
      The Silver Arrows’ torrid time was epitomised at the Brazil GP last week, after Hamilton finished eighth and George Russell retired on lap 58 of 71.
      Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has cruised to the world title with the Dutchman leading on 524 points following 17 race wins.
      The penultimate race of the season will see Las Vegas’ debut in the sport on November 18, with the Abu Dhabi hosting the 2023 finale on November 26.
      Mercedes and Hamilton suffered another devastating weekend in Sao Paulo More

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      in Soccer

      Former Soccer AM star Tubes bravely opens up on his ‘life-ruining’ alcohol addiction after death of his dad

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      FORMER Soccer AM star Tubes has opened up about how golf saved his life after battling an alcohol addiction.Tubes was speaking on Beef’s Golf Club which is hosted by golf star Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.
      Tubes was a fan favourite on the beloved Soccer AM showCredit: Instagram
      The beloved presenter spent 21 years working on the showCredit: Sky Sports
      He joined Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston for Beef’s Golf ClubCredit: youtube tubes and ange golf life
      Tubes, whose real name is Peter Dale, left Sky Sports this year after the much loved Soccer AM was cancelled.
      He was a cornerstone of the show from its early days and had spent a total of 21 years working for Sky.
      He now hosts Tubes and Ange Golf Life on his YouTube channel with celebrity guests including the likes of Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, comedian Tom Davis and Arsenal star Declan Rice.
      And in his podcast alongside Beef, Tubes bravely opened up about how golf “saved his life” after suffering from a crippling alcohol dependency.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Beef asked Tubes about how golfing had helped his mental health generally and Tubes replied: “It’s been amazing. [It’s helped] since I finally admitted that I was addicted to alcohol. Which I should have done years ago. I knew from about 16 that I didn’t have a normal relationship with alcohol.”
      He described how the “buzz” of alcohol “was the most uplifting thing,” before comparing the feeling to a kid waking up on Christmas morning, saying: “You know when you’re a young boy and you’re so excited about the buzz of Christmas. That Kronenbourg would go down and I’d be like ‘yeah’, and I just wanted that feeling the whole time.”
      Tubes said that initially, his need to drink was to cover up his shyness in social settings, but it took a darker turn as the years went on.
      He explained that as he got into his twenties his “whole life revolved around alcohol” and he would plan his drinking around work commitments.
      Most read in Football
      This summer, he played alongside Celtic manager Brendan Rogers on the channelCredit: youtube tubes and ange golf life
      He said: “I would look at the Chelsea fixture list and it wasn’t like ‘ah amazing, Chelsea Vs United’ it was like, brilliant, Sunday game, that means I can go out after Soccer AM all day Saturday, get p***ed, get up in the morning, first thing, go and do it all again on Sunday.”
      Tubes said that the turning point in his drinking came after he struggled to process the death of his father.
      He said: “When my Dad passed away, for a year after that I was quite good. I was still drinking but I was quite good. But then six months to a year later I had a real dip.”
      He said he suffered from PTSD in relation to his father’s passing which caused his drinking to “step up”.
      He said: “The drinking wasn’t fun anymore. My whole life became planned around drink. I’d be buying little vodkas just to have them with me at all times.
      “I was constantly chasing that buzz. It was a mess. I was so addicted to alcohol it was unbelievable. First thing I’d do in the morning was pick up a little bottle of vodka and bang. I’d call it a little leveller.
      “So when I finally admitted I was ruining other people’s lives I said one day ‘enough is enough.’ I’m not upsetting my mum anymore, she’s just lost her husband six months ago, it’s not fair.
      “I thought right I need to do stuff which allows me to see my friends and doesn’t involve going to the pub. So I was like golf! Golf!”
      He presents Golf Life alongside his brother AngeCredit: youtube tubes and ange golf life
      He said that his co-host and brother Ange was the biggest golfer he knew so he asked them if they could play together.
      Tubes said that while he initially found golf boring, playing after giving up alcohol allowed “something to click in his head.”
      He said the social aspect of golf was particularly important to allow him to break his dependency on the substance, saying: “Golf was just so good. I thought, I’ve got my friends, I don’t need to be drinking alcohol. I’m having such a laugh.”
      “There was an addiction there [with golf]. When I hit a good shot I got such a buzz and I was celebrating my shots like goals.
      “It really helped me stay off the alcohol ’cause once you get past six months and you transform your life it becomes a lot easier.”
      Read More on The Sun
      As well as helping him to break his drinking habit, golf ultimately gave Tubes the platform to go full time with YouTube after leaving Soccer AM.
      Tubes and Ange’s Golf Life has gone from strength to strength since its launch, and its weekly episodes feature interview with celebrities ranging from golf pros, to musicians, to professional footballers.
      Alcohol must knows

      NHS guidelines on drinking alcoholAccording to the NHS, regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week risks damaging your health.
      To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:

      men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis 
      spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
      if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week

      If you’re pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.
      You read more on the NHS website. More

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      in Soccer

      Saudi Arabia ready to suspend its alcohol ban to boost its bid to host 2034 World Cup

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      SAUDI Arabia is ready to suspend its alcohol ban to boost its unpopular bid to stage the 2034 World Cup.Fearing thousands of fans would shun a dry tournament, a compromise deal could see booze sold in hotels and restricted fan zones.
      Saudi Arabia is ready to suspend its alcohol ban to boost its bid to stage the 2034 World CupCredit: Reuters
      The Arab nation became the controversial favourite to host 2034 after Fifa handed the 2030 tournament to Spain, Portugal, Morocco — plus opening games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
      Critics accused football chiefs of grabbing “dirty money” from a state guilty of appalling human right abuses and the gruesome murder of a dissident journalist.
      The Muslim country outlaws alcohol sale and consumption — and foreigners caught drinking face public flogging, huge fines, lengthy imprisonment and deportation.
      But a Saudi source told The Sun: “Football fans will be allowed to drink if Saudi Arabia stages the World Cup.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      “It has not been publicly discussed but it is an accepted fact.
      “We acknowledge very serious mistakes have been made in the past and want the world to understand that we are changing.”
      Last year, Qatar broke its promise to allow beer sales at matches just two days before kick-off — banning sponsor Budweiser’s lager until after the evening call to prayer. More

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      in Soccer

      I live next to a Premier League ground and they want to have boozy, late-night concerts – but we took them on

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      ONE OF the Premier League’s wealthiest football clubs has suffered a defeat long before the new season starts – dished out by neighbours unhappy about their boozy late-night gig plans.Residents living close to the billionaire-backed team’s stadium launched a protest campaign against the prospect of pop concerts featuring all-day alcohol sales.
      A Premier League giant has been forced to back down on pop concert plansCredit: Reuters
      The rebellion by neighbouring residents marks the latest recent setback for the BluesCredit: PA
      The high-profile gigs would have added to the existing annual sporting calendar of 19 league home games plus cup ties.
      But the plan has now been scrapped in a victory for neighbours over the club’s rich US owners.
      The venue in question is Stamford Bridge, in well-to-do west London – and the club now licking its wounds is two-time Uefa Champions League winners Chelsea FC.
      The ruling has been hailed as a triumph for people power, with campaigners today celebrating how they had “frightened” the footballing power which has a lion on the badge and as its mascot.
      Read More On Chelsea
      Chelsea were bought by a US consortium headed by Todd Boehly last summer, after Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich – bankroller of the Blues since 2003 – was forced to cede control following his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
      The club, who have long been investigating for years how to boost Stamford Bridge’s 41,000-capacity, wanted to boost revenue in the meantime by hosting concerts there.
      London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have attracted music superstars such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Guns N’ Roses to perform at their new 62,850-capacity stadium since opening it in 2019.
      Yet Chelsea have been forced to abandon their hopes of doing similar.
      Most read in Football
      Hundreds of residents living around the ground – which is in Fulham, south-west London – signed petitions urging Hammersmith and Fulham council to refuse permission.
      Chelsea had applied for approval for a concert venue in part of their stadium.
      Under their proposals, it would have remained throughout the year with an alcohol licence from 10am until 11pm, the Mail On Sunday reported.
      Yet after talks with council officers, the club has now decided to withdraw the application – to neighbours’ delight.
      Writer Kate Reardon, who has lived close by for eight years, said: “We are thankful Chelsea have chosen to engage and listen to residents’ concerns.”
      But she went on: “What really frightened them was the sheer scale of the application.
      “It would have given any future owners the possibility of making the residents’ lives a misery.
      “Chelsea have been here since 1905 and their ability to influence the health and happiness of the neighbourhood cannot be understated.”
      Another happy local, 49-year-old Ramzi Mroueh, said: “We are relieved and very grateful that Chelsea FC listened to our concerns and pulled the application.”
      And neighbour Adriana Ennab said: “It shows what is possible when the community works together towards a goal.”
      Chelsea’s hopes of emulating London rivals such as Spurs, Arsenal and West Ham United by getting a bigger ground have also been hampered by technicalities.
      Stamford Bridge is owned by thousands of fans in shares, giving the the Chelsea Pitch Owners PLC organisation a big say on whether the Blues can move.
      The group have to approve the shift from Stamford Bridge if the club were to continue in their current form of “Chelsea”.
      The CPO also owns the freehold to the Bridge and would need to be bought out by the club’s owners for control of the stadium.
      Abramovich, a former ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, attempted to buy the land in 2012 but was rebuffed by CPO shareholders.
      Blues fans suffered more misery in the Premier League season which concluded last month, with the club finishing 12th in the table – their lowest placing since 14th in 1994.
      They went through four managers in 2022-2023 – Thomas Tuchel, ex-Brighton and Hove Albion boss Graham Potter, one-game interim head coach Bruno Saltor then returning club legend Frank Lampard whose 11-match caretaker spell brought just one win.
      They have since hired a permanent replacement in former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino.
      Spurs are not the only Premier League club in London who are able to put on pop concerts.
      Arsenal’s 60,074-capacity Emirates Stadium has hosted the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, the Killers and earlier this month the Arctic Monkeys ahead of their Glastonbury headline spot this weekend.
      Read More On The Sun
      The Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams, the Foo Fighters, Muse and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers have played West Ham’s 66,000-seat London Stadium which was originally built for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
      Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s home since 1905, currently has capacity for 41,000 fansCredit: Getty
      Beyonce last month brought her Renaissance world tour to the home of Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for five nights
      The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has also hosted Lady Gaga and Guns N’ RosesCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Ex-Premier League star who went from millions to Universal Credit & bankruptcy wins row over house ownership

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      A FOOTBALL star who went from earning millions to going bankrupt and claiming benefits has won a court battle over a home.Ex-Premier League striker Marcus Bent has fought off bankruptcy trustees who tried for four years to seize a London property.
      Ex-Premier League footballer Marcus Bent has been battling bankruptcy officialsCredit: Simon Jones – The Sun
      They said the former striker – who played for top-flight sides Everton, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Wolves – owned the house and should hand it over to help pay off debts.
      Yet 45-year-old Bent, who went bankrupt in January 2019, insisted it belonged to his 19-year-old daughter.
      He bought it for her in 2006 and meant it to be held in trust for her until she turned 18, he told London’s specialist Insolvency and Companies Court.
      Now judge Clive Jones has ruled in his favour, London’s Evening Standard newspaper reported.
      Read More On Premier League
      He said Bent’s estimated debt following bankrutpcy proceedings brought by tax officials was “a couple of million”.
      But Mr Jones said the house “fell outside the bankruptcy estate” and that trustees administering the estate, had “no interest” in it.
      Former England Under-21 international Bent, watching via videolink, told the judge after hearing the verdict: “We are very happy.”
      His daughter is from a former relationship with ex-fiancee Kelly Clark which ended in 2006, the same year he got together with Hollyoaks actress and future Strictly Come Dancing star Gemma Atkinson.
      Most read in Football
      After they too split he later dated model and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Danielle Lloyd.
      Bent earned up to £20,000 a week during his football career but endured a miserable fall from grace after retiring.
      He turned to drugs and alcohol and also found himself with a criminal record after a police raid which saw him Tasered.
      And despite earning an estimated £10m during his playing days, he struggled with his finances – culminating in bankruptcy in 2019.
      He later told of being forced to claim Universal Credit benefits.
      Bent, born in Hammersmith in west London, was banned from the roads for 32 months in March last year after being found four times over the drink-drive limit.
      He pleaded guilty to driving his grey BMW X5 three-litre diesel on the A3 at Tibbet’s Corner in south-west London on February 27 last year.
      Magistrates in Wimbledon rejected his excuse he had only had two glasses of wine the night before, describing his reading as one of the highest they had seen.
      He was recorded at 134 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, whereas the the legal limit is 35.
      Bent’s lawyer Scott Ewing told the court the ex-footballer was “remorseful” while outlining his financial woes.
      Mr Ewing said: “He is not working at the moment, but does some football match commentary and recently was on Universal Credit.
      “He has no income, save for a £20,000 return on an investment, and says he had depression that led to drug and alcohol issues in the past.”
      Mr Ewing also described football as a “comfort blanket” for Bent, who struggled to cope after retiring and “went from having a high-profile, successful career to nothing”.
      The lawyer added: “Unfortunately sycophants and leeches provided unregulated investment advice.
      “He has now hit rock bottom, from where he’s looking up and there’s only one direction to go and that’s to give advice to others so they don’t fall into the same traps.
      “It is a pity it has taken something like this for Mr Bent to get the assistance he needs.”
      Bent had appeared in the same courthouse in 2016, being fined £385 for possessing cocaine at Chessington World of Adventures.
      Earlier that year he received a suspended prison sentence for possessing cocaine and affray, after being Tasered by police arresting him at his home in Esher, Surrey.
      His affray trial heard how he was high on cocaine when he ran at officers while wielding a meat cleaver and a kitchen knife.
      He later insisted: “At no point was I ever going to take someone’s life. I called them because I was hallucinating, paranoid, terrified.”
      Read More On The Sun
      But he revealed it prompted him to go into rehab, including a spell helped by former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance clinic.
      Bent’s other clubs during a 573-game, 113-goal career included Sheffield United – also now in the Premier League – as well as current Championship sides Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Middlesbrough and Queens Park Rangers.
      Bent’s 14 English league clubs included Championship side Birmingham CityCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The former striker was banned for drink-driving by Wimbledon magistrates last yearCredit: Square Mile News More