Former footballer pleads not guilty to racially aggravated offence after appearing before magistrates

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Paul Gascoigne is to stand trial accused of making a racist joke at a comedy show.

The former England international pleaded not guilty to a racially aggravated offence when he appeared before Dudley magistrates court on Wednesday morning.

The ex-footballer allegedly made the remarks during an evening billed An Audience With Paul Gascoigne at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton on 30 November last year.

He is alleged to have made a joke about a black security guard whom he spotted in a darkened corner of the stage, saying he could not tell “if he is smiling or not”.

The 49-year-old signed autographs for fans as he arrived at the West Midlands court to a small gathering of press.

Wearing a smart blue suit and open neck shirt, Gascoigne sat in the wood-panelled dock for the short hearing and nodded at a friend in the public gallery.

After a charge of using racially aggravated words was put to Gascoigne by the court clerk, he replied: “Not guilty.”

District Judge Graham Wilkinson released the ex-footballer on unconditional bail to return to the court on 19 September, when the trial is due to begin.

Gascoigne’s contact address was listed on official court documents as a law firm in Bedfordshire.

Audience members paid up to £385 for the Wolverhampton leg of Gascoigne’s UK tour, during which the former England player recounted anecdotes from his lively career.