Rio Ferdinand in court to sue over story

Rio Ferdinand. Photo / Supplied

England footballer Rio Ferdinand appeared at the High Court yesterday as he began legal action against Mirror Group Newspapers for publishing a story about an alleged affair.

The married father-of-three's case against the publishers of the Sunday Mirror, which is expected to last three days, relates to an article about a relationship that apparently lasted 13 years. It appeared in the newspaper on April 25 last year.

In the latest legal skirmish between celebrities claiming a right to privacy over newspapers standing behind the principle of a free press, Ferdinand's barrister told the judge that the action was being taken over the misuse of private information.

The Mirror Group argues that it was in the public interest to reveal the relationship, given his prominent standing in the national game, as well as saying Ferdinand's attitude to the article is not consistent with his approach to previous articles about his sex life.

The case follows the scandal around Ferdinand's England defensive partner - and rival for the team captaincy - John Terry, who last year saw a superinjunction banning publication of details about his affair with a former teammate's girlfriend lifted.

The press and public were excluded from the proceedings soon after remarks by Ferdinand's lawyer, Hugh Tomlinson, QC, as a debate took place in private over how much could be heard in open court. It was decided that much of the evidence should be aired in public.

- Independent