Journalist faces prosecution over Twitter outcry

The development comes amid growing concerns over the way anonymous users of social networks are able to bypass injunctions protecting celebrities privacy.

It was reported that lawyers for the married footballer - alleged to have had a sexual relationship with a model - persuaded a High Court judge to ask Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC to consider whether the journalist should be prosecuted.

The judge, Mr Justice Tugendhat, is said to have upheld the footballer's injunction protecting his name, before agreeing to pass on his complaint to the Attorney General. The player is known only as TSE.