A DECISION on whether Paul Gascoigne should be included in the next England squad will be made today following final talks between the coach Glenn Hoddle and the English Football Association chairman Keith Wiseman.
Allegations that the player beat up his wife Sheryl have raised doubts about whether Gascoigne should be allowed to represent his country in the World Cup qualifier in Georgia on November 9th, the squad for which will be announced tomorrow.
The indications, however, are that Gascoigne will be included in the squad and, if that is the case, several arguments will have weighed in his favour.
First, it is understood that in talking with Gascoigne and others close to him, Hoddle has been presented with a more complicated picture surrounding the allegations than originally surfaced two weeks ago, some of it so personal it may never be made public.
Second, it will be argued that football should not punish a player for something that happened in his private life. And third, Gascoigne is reported to have sought professional help since the alleged incident.
However, many people feel that nothing can excuse the hitting of a woman and to choose Gascoigne for England will send out the wrong message.
According to Wiseman the final decision on Gascoigne's inclusion - and he stressed yesterday that none had been taken - will depend on three factors: "whether he is playing well enough to be chosen, which is entirely a matter for Glenn; whether he is in an appropriate state of mind to be selected to play in an international at this stage, which is down to Glenn, and whether the totality of the surrounding circumstances make it appropriate for him to play for England, which is a matter for both of us."
Wiseman refused to reveal his opinion on the last point, saying only. I will only have a view on that when Glenn and I have our final discussions prior to the announcement on Friday morning.
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