View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
November 10, 2009

Ronaldo wins damages over nightclub ‘bender’ slur

By PA Mediapoint

Former Manchester United footballer Cristiano Ronaldo accepted “substantial” libel damages over a false Daily Mirror allegation that he went on a “bender” at a Hollywood nightclub.

Ronaldo, who does not drink alcohol, also received an apology at the High Court in London yesterday over claims published in July last year.

Ronald Thwaites QC, acting for Ronaldo, told Justice Eady the newspaper reported that, despite being in recovery from an ankle operation as a result of which he was on crutches, he had “gone on a bender” in Los Angeles.

The article, entitled “Ron The Lash” was published with a photograph of Ronaldo on crutches in Los Angeles where he had travelled to attend a sports award ceremony.

It reported that the star had splashed out £10,000 at a nightclub on champagne and vodka for friends and models, having himself already drunk four glasses of red wine earlier in the evening over a meal.

Thwaites added: “The report said that later on in the nightclub he drank a number of vodka and sodas before switching to bottles of champagne.

“It described how one clubber claimed to have seen him throw his crutches down on the floor and try to dance on his uninjured foot.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

He added: “In fact, the truth is that the events did not happen as reported.

“Although the claimant was in LA and he did attend the nightclub in question, he did not drink any alcohol at all whilst there.

“He does not drink alcohol because he takes his health, fitness and recovery from injury very seriously. Nor did he throw his crutches to the floor and try to dance.

“He sat in a private corner under the care and supervision of the respected Portuguese national team physiotherapist, Antonio Gaspar.”

The QC said the defendant, publishers Mirror Group Newspapers, “now accepts that its allegations were untrue”.

It had agreed “to pay substantial damages to the claimant for the libel and to reimburse the majority of his reasonable legal costs”.

He said Ronaldo “considers that he has been fully vindicated and is happy to bring these proceedings to a close”.

Zoe Norden, solicitor for MGN, told the judge: “Through me the defendant offers its apologies to the claimant for the distress, embarrassment and offence caused by this article.

“The defendant accepts that the allegations are false and ought never to have been published. It is therefore happy to set the record straight and to apologise to the claimant.”

In a statement issued through law firm Schillings, Ronaldo said: “I felt I had no choice to begin and pursue these legal proceedings.

“I would like to thank Sir Alex Ferguson and the others who were ready to appear as witnesses along with me at the trial which had been due to start today.”

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network