Lineker's 'humiliating attack'

Gary Lineker was accused today of libelling a football star in a vicious personal attack.

The Match Of The Day presenter accused Harry Kewell of being dishonourable, cunning, disloyal and stupid, a jury was told.

The allegations left Liverpool and Australia striker Kewell "hurt and humiliated".

Lineker said Kewell's £5 million transfer from Leeds United was "a distasteful episode... which further blackened the reputation of the sport" over the way he was sold.

He was particularly critical of the role of Kewell's agent Bernie Mandic who, Lineker said, had taken £2million from the deal "for doing very little".

In papers submitted to the High Court, Kewell is said to have "suffered substantial injury to his personal and professional reputation as well as considerable hurt, distress and embarrassment."

He was "particularly hurt" that former England captain Lineker, dubbed Mr Nice Guy during his playing career, launched the "highly personal attack" the day after they met at a charity golf tournament.

Kewell, 26, is demanding libel damages over Lineker's column in the Sunday Telegraph headlined "Kewell move made me feel ashamed of game".

Kewell's counsel Andrew Monson told the jury they should read between the lines of Lineker's article.

He said that Lineker implied Kewell had "got his agent to approach Liverpool without Leeds' consent, thereby disloyally and cunningly circumventing the rules".

He said Lineker had implied that Kewell had "naively and stupidly allowed Mr Mandic to manipulate him to his financial detriment".

The barrister also claimed Lineker had accused Kewell of "discrediting himself by willingly participating in a deeply dishonest and financially dubious transfer".

In fact, said Mr Monson, Mr Mandic had approached potential buyers with the approval of then Leeds's chairman Peter Ridsdale.

Leeds United was in grave financial peril and had already sold off stars Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Robbie Fowler, Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer. Eventually a five-year deal was agreed between Leeds and Liverpool which would pay Kewell a total of £13.5 million. However there was a dispute over which club should pay him a loyalty bonus of £1.5 million.

It was finally agreed that the officially transfer price be dropped from £7million to £5million and the difference would go direct from Liverpool to Kewell but the controversy raged on.

Mr Monson told the jury they should award Kewell "substantial" damages because "the libel was serious and came from the mouth of an extremely well-known and respected presenter of Match Of The Day and somebody whom readers would expect to be wellinformed and authoritative".

The case continues.