Gazza, who recently admitted to the Mirror his struggle with alcohol addiction, encountered a peculiar situation in 2013 while returning from rehab in the US. His penchant for Beef Jerky led to a confrontation with the authorities at an Arizona airport, where he had purchased 20 packs of the dried meat as a souvenir for his trip back to the UK.
The incident unfolded as police, suspecting drugs, detained him for inspection when they discovered the Beef Jerky in his possession. Gazza humorously recounted the confusion, stating, “The dogs were sniffing around my bags for beef jerky.” Complicating matters, he had taken an excess of anti-fear pills for his flight anxiety, which inadvertently landed him in Mexico with a fellow rehab attendee.
Following a recent left knee injury and emergency surgery due to stomach ulcers from excessive gin consumption, Gazza has faced health challenges. Notably, he sports tattoos dedicated to loved ones and stepchildren Bianca and Mason, both known reality TV personalities.
Transitioning from his football career to public appearances, Gazza now engages fans with anecdotes from his England playing days, including encounters with influential figures such as Princess Diana and Elton John. Despite past fame and success, Gazza’s life has taken unpredictable turns, as revealed in his upcoming book “Paul Gascoigne Eight,” available for pre-order on Amazon.