Libel payout for David Beckham over model claims

David Beckham accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages today over a newspaper claim that he "made a play" for model Mariann Fogarasy.

The 34-year-old England star was not at London's High Court for the settlement of his case against Express Group Newspapers over an article which appeared in The Daily Star in April.

His solicitor, Gerrard Tyrrell, told Mr Justice Eady that the serious and defamatory allegations were completely untrue.

The front page story, which was headed Becks And The Blonde Beauty and Topless Model Claims She Was Chatted Up By Footie Star, was also published on the newspaper's website.

It claimed that Beckham had "made a play" for Ms Fogarasy after a recent AC Milan match in Hungary and that he had been emailing her with "private party" invitations since they "got close" after the match.

Mr Tyrrell said the newspaper now accepted that Beckham did not behave in the manner described and unequivocally retracted the allegations.

Kate Wilson, counsel for Express Group Newspapers, which has agreed to pay Beckham substantial damages and his legal costs, apologised to him and his family for the distress, embarrassment and injury caused.