David Beckham has accepted “substantial” libel damages from a newspaper which claimed he “made a play” for model Mariann Fogarasy.

The 34-year-old footballer was not at London’s High Court for the settlement against Express Group Newspapers over the article, published in April.

The Daily Star claimed Mr. Beckham had been emailing Ms Fogarasy with “private party” invitations since they met.

The paper has retracted the claims and accepted he did not behave that way.

Completely untrue

Kate Wilson, who was representing the newspaper, apologised to the Beckham family for the distress, embarrassment and injury caused.

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

The article had been splashed across the front page of the paper and was also published on its website.

It had claimed the emails began after the pair met at a recent AC Milan match.

It has not been disclosed how much Mr. Beckham, who has been married to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham for nearly 10 years, will receive from the paper.

Source, Bauer-Griffin