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Former football star Paul Gascoigne is at the centre of an investigation over an alleged “hate crime”.

The West Midlands Police probe centres on an alleged racist ‘joke’ the 48-year-old ex-Newcastle United and England legend made during a show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

It came during an evening billed ‘An Audience With Paul Gascoigne’ on November 30, for which punters forked out over £350 for a VIP pass.

And West Midlands Police confirmed an investigation was under way.

A force spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have received a report of a hate crime, which allegedly happened during a performance at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Monday November 30.

“Officers have taken an official statement from the victim and the inquiry is ongoing.

“Police take reports of hate crime extremely seriously and a thorough investigation will take place.

“Anyone who is a victim of this type of offence should not to suffer in silence and is encouraged to report it to police on 101 or via the internet at www.report-it.org.uk .

“We will neither confirm nor deny any names at this stage.”

Two members of the audience have since detailed the controversy. They claim the Geordie star drew gasps when telling a black security guard, standing against a black background: “If you weren’t smiling, I wouldn’t be able to see you.”

It was a ‘gag’ first unveiled by Northern clubland comic Bernard Manning in the early 1970s.

“Gazza knew what he’d done straight away,” said one witness. “There were gasps.

“It’s such a shame because he was really on form, the best I’ve seen him for a long time.”

Police have yet to interview Gascoigne, whose battle with addiction has been well documented, but a source close to the former St James’ Park terrace idol said that he was aware of the complaint.

A review of the show in a Wolverhampton newspaper described Gazza as a “flawed genius”, and makes passing reference to the “joke” that has spawned police action.

“The audience is in fits too,” reported the reviewer. “But as is often the case, just when it’s all going so well, Gazza goes too far.

“Spotting a black security chap in a darkened corner of the stage, he says he can’t tell if he’s smiling or not.

“The Civic took an audible gasp as the laughter instantly dropped from raucous to nervous.”

The incident soured Gascoigne’s triumphant Black Country tour. During the day he took it upon himself to meet three-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Georgie Gibbs, at the centre of a massive fundraising campaign in her home city of Worcester.

Onlookers said he seemed relaxed, happy and free of the troubles that have blighted his life in recent years.

During the Wolverhampton show, Gascoigne informed his adoring public in the first minute: “Nine months without a drink.”

A close friend of the football legend spoke of the star’s torment over the allegations.

“Paul is terribly, terribly upset,” he said. “There is not a racist bone in his body.

“He made a joke of the type he makes all the time to his friend Ian Wright and, unfortunately, it did not go down well.

“He was naive, but it was said with absolutely no malice.”

The pal added: “For the record, the security guard in question posed, smiling, with his arm around Paul afterwards.”

But community activist Desmond Jaddoo, a leading West Midlands campaigner for Afro-Caribbean rights, welcomed police involvement.

“A hate crime is a hate crime,” he said. “Anything that puts someone down because of their race, colour or creed is a hate crime. Go into any police station and look at the posters and they will tell you that.

“Paul Gascoigne is a hero to a lot of people, irrespective of what has happened in his life.

“He is among people who are listened to, who are considered heroes. He has allegedly belittled someone because of their colour and that is unacceptable, particularly at a time when the West Midlands is celebrating its cultural diversity.

“If I was in the audience, I would have certainly been offended.”

Boxfrog, the company which organised the evening, has declined to comment.