Michael Owen, the Newcastle United and England striker, has accepted a public apology and substantial undisclosed damages from the Daily Express over a story falsely claiming his football career was over. The settlement of his libel action was announced at the High Court in London, although Owen was not present.
Owen's solicitor, John Kelly, told Mr Justice Eady that the article, published last month, alleged that Premier League clubs did not want to sign him and that he was on the verge of retiring at the end of the season. The back-page story was headlined 'Unwanted Toon striker at a cross roads, Finished at 29?' and accompanied by another piece titled 'Owen ready for sad finale'.
Kelly described the allegations as 'incredulous' and 'entirely without foundation', adding they were 'extremely distressing, hurtful and damaging' to the player. The timing of the article, on the eve of an important relegation battle and just before the transfer window opened, aggravated the distress.
Kelly noted that the allegations were not put to Owen or his representatives before publication. After being alerted to the story, the newspaper replaced it in later editions with one headlined 'Owen: I'm not finished'. However, the damage had been done, especially in Newcastle, where the first edition was distributed.
A spokesman for Owen said: 'Michael is delighted to have won his case and to have set the record straight. He would have preferred not to take action, but had no alternative in this case.' Ian Helme, counsel for Express Newspapers, accepted the allegations were false and apologised for the distress caused.
