England captain fails to keep newspaper quiet over affair claim

ENGLAND football captain John Terry was yesterday named as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.

His identity was revealed after Mr Justice Tugendhat gave his reasons at London's High Court for lifting the order which he originally granted at a private hearing last Friday.

It covered the alleged relationship between LNS – as married Terry was referred to in court – and another woman.

The judge, who heard that an English newspaper group wanted to publish a story about the footballer last Sunday, said: "The evidence is that there has been wide circulation amongst those involved in the sport in question, including agents and others, and not just amongst those directly engaged in the sport."

Because the information had become so widely available to so many people, it meant that an injunction was less necessary or proportionate than would otherwise be the case.

"Further, if – as I think likely – the real concern of the applicant in this case is the effect of publication upon the sponsorship business, then damages would be an adequate remedy if LNS succeeds at trial," the judge said.

Terry, who is expected to captain England at the World Cup finals this summer, is married to his childhood sweetheart Toni and is the father of twins.

He was named Dad of the Year last year in a sauce survey.

In his judgment, which does not name the woman, Mr Justice Tugendhat said that LNS (Terry) accepted the truth of certain information covered by the order.