http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21022008/ ... ioned.html

Very sad, as it was with Frank Bruno, but not a great surprise.

Very sad news.

He has alot of problems, that he has failed to deal with. He's always struck me as a very unstable character. (Not helped by his excessive party lifestyle).

I hope he recovers, and is happy.

Sad news but this bit stood out for me "with unconfirmed reports of erratic behaviour involving compulsive computer gaming"

I bet he was playing Pro Evo 2008, that game sends me mental sometimes.

Or Football manager?... Maybe he hadnt slept for a fortnight?..

Real shame,hope he can straighten him self out quickly.

A player like that should be given some responsibility at a club,after he had finished playing.

He would be great coaching the kids.

He would be great coaching the kids.

Would he really? He was a great player, but he's a horrible role model for kids.

He would be great coaching the kids.

Would he really? He was a great player, but he's a horrible role model for kids.

I cant remember exactly when but i think it was either 97 or 98 i went to Fratton park with my dad to see Paul Walsh's testimonial between the pompey team and a celebrity 11 including Gazza and i think Robbie williams.

Anyway about half an hour in Gazza went to the touchline and had a beer or at least that's what everyone around me was saying

A 'horrible' role model he may be, however, he is an excellent example to children who may be unaware of the potential pit falls of modern day football success.

It is true that too much celebrity is handed to footballers. It is true that they get paid too much money. It is true that they, and their private life become vulnerable to constant media invasion - and not every young man knows how to deal with it?

I'm sure it's not by sticking a load of drugs up your nose, or by drinking yourself silly; Gascoigne will tell you that, but i'm also sure there are lot's and lot's of lessons that he could teach to youngsters that have aspirations of being the next 'Gazza'.

I wish him well.

Forget role model thats your parents job,im talking about talent,coaching kids!!!

Ossie,Marsh,Best all burned the candle at both ends,but were amazing players!

I agree that it's your parents job to be your kids' role models,but who do young football mad kids look up to, if not famous footballers? And being a great player doesn't necessarily makeyou a great coach. Then again, he could be great with kids...I mean he's probably still a big kid himself. Maybe Gazza should get together with Maradona and start a football academy.

Has anyone read his autobiography? I read the first few chapters at a mate's house a while back, and it was obvious that the guy has serious mental problems (that he was aware of) that are practically crippling and prevent him leading any kind of normal life. I'm sure the booze is just a form of escape from the neuroses he suffers from.

I don't think he'd ever be able to coach properly. Great players rarely make top coaches. And his management skills would not appear to amount to very much.

I'm gutted to hear this news. I love the bloke. I know several people who have met him personally and none have a bad word to say about him. And he was an astounding footballer at his peak. A natural talent.

However, sad to say, I've been telling my missus for years Gazza will not see old bones.

The fact is he needed the game more than the game needed him. It was his outlet. His passion. I think the only thing in his life that gave him a sense of purpose.

When he finished playing he should have been given a chance at some club. Not at managing, he was never made for that. But at full-time coaching. It would have kept him in daily contact with the game he loved. I really believe football could have been his saviour.

In some ways although the news is sad it maybe the saving of Gazza. The fact that he has finally been sanctioned under the mental health act rather than just portrayed as a drunken yob with a depression problem may (hopefully) be the catalyst for a more positive future for him. Unfortuntately there will always be human vermin who will attach themselves to Gazza just to see what they can get out of it for themselves but just maybe there will be more who are genuinely going to help him now.

A side story here though is the way the British media will portray it. I dare say the tabloids will have a few fairly unflattering pictures of him but I bet he isn't portrayed as some sort of human rubbish bin the way say Amy Winehouse or Britney Spears have been - the reason being that Gazza is still seen as being something of a broken national hero (despite the fact he beat his wife black and blue, a crime that would see most people vilified forevermore).

I've said it before and I will always say it. Money and fame is not an issue when it comes to these sort of problems. They are just fragile human beings and do not deserve the treatment they get from the media and quite often the public at large.

Get well soon Gazza.

I'm gutted to hear this news. I love the bloke. I know several people who have met him personally and none have a bad word to say about him. And he was an astounding footballer at his peak. A natural talent.

However, sad to say, I've been telling my missus for years Gazza will not see old bones.

The fact is he needed the game more than the game needed him. It was his outlet. His passion. I think the only thing in his life that gave him a sense of purpose.

When he finished playing he should have been given a chance at some club. Not at managing, he was never made for that. But at full-time coaching. It would have kept him in daily contact with the game he loved. I really believe football could have been his saviour.

you've saved me from posting............he was a great player, with natural skill who lived for football.....and couldn't handle it finishing. He always played with a smile on his face and just enjoyed being on a football pitch controlling a game. He was a pleasure to watch when on form.

Gazza has been sectioned under the mental heath act & has no chance of recovery!

"We're glad to have him back!" said Keegan

There was a time when it was hard to feel sorry for him... what with having the world at his feet and then being idiotic at times to playing for Tottenham and beating his wife...

But he must be at rock bottom now, trouble never seems far away from people with special talents.

I reckon he is Englands only all time player standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Pele, Maradona, Zidane... like these players, lets face it, with a little slice of luck he could have won the world cup for his country.

Get well soon

TBH, as a player I couldn't care less about him, no matter how brilliant he was. But for any human being (and I'm assuming he is one ) this is very sad for him and his family. I hope he can overcome this.

News Update

Gazza has been released from hospital and allowed to return to his home.