Rio Ferdinand loses High Court privacy action over 'kiss and tell'

Footballer Rio Ferdinand has lost his High Court privacy action over a "kiss and tell" story about an alleged affair.

The Manchester United star brought the action against MGN Ltd, seeking substantial damages and a worldwide "contra mundum" injunction, after ex-partner Carly Storey sold a story about their alleged 13-year relationship to the Sunday Mirror.

'My affair with England captain Rio', for which Storey was paid £16,000, was branded a "gross invasion of my privacy" by Ferdinand. At an earlier hearing, he said that explaining the story to fellow professionals had been "stressful and embarrassing", adding that it had also "inevitably put a strain on my relationship with my wife".

In his ruling, Mr Justice Nicol said: "Overall, in my judgment, the balancing exercise favours the defendant's right of freedom of expression over the claimant's right of privacy."

In the article, Storey - who the footballer said he had not seen for six years at the time of publication - claimed that she had been dumped by Ferdinand just days before he won the England captaincy in February 2010.

MGN Ltd said that the story was in the public interest, with counsel Gavin Millar QC arguing that the married father-of-three's public image was without merit.

Sunday Mirror editor Tina Weaver said in a statement that the newspaper was "very pleased" with the ruling.

"The judge found that there was a justified public interest in reporting the off-pitch behaviour of the then-England captain and discussion of his suitability for such an important and ambassadorial role representing the country," she said. "We are pleased the judge ruled that Mr Ferdinand had perpetuated a misleading public image and the Sunday Mirror was entitled to correct this impression.

"There has never been greater scrutiny of the media than now, and we applaud this ruling in recognising the important role a free press has to play in a democratic society."

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