Ronaldo wins nightclub slur payout

Nov 9 2009

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo has accepted "substantial" libel damages over a false 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 over claims published in the Daily Mirror in July last year.

His QC, Ronald Thwaites, told Mr Justice Eady that 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.

In a statement issued through his solicitor, Ronaldo said: "I am delighted with this outcome.

"I take training and recovery from injury very seriously and would never have 'gone on a bender' and danced in a nightclub without my crutches as the Mirror falsely claimed."