Paul Gascoigne was banned from boarding a plane when he tried to return to the UK from Malta on Sunday because he was deemed too drunk.

The former footballer, who left a rehab centre in Arizona last month where he had been battling his alcohol problems, was in the country to play in a special veterans match.

Gascoigne only managed to play in the last half hour of the game and lost 5-1 to the ageing Italian players.

After the game he was spotted drinking heavily at his hotel bar, and when he arrived at Malta's international airport a supervisor was informed of Gazza's state and told him he could not fly.

Gascoigne complained but then left the airport, reportedly telling people as he left: "'You'll be silly to fly with Air Malta".

It is not clear whether he is still in Malta or whether he has now left. The footballer has not yet commented on the reports.

Gascoigne has been in rehab six times over the last few years to fight his addiction to alcohol and has previously vowed to stop drinking.