BRITAIN: Former Manchester United soccer player George Best was last week over an allegation he indecently assaulted a young girl, police have said.
Best (59) was granted police bail after his arrest on June 9th in Surrey, southwest of London. "Surrey Police has received an allegation of indecent assault against a 59-year-old man," a police spokesman said.
"The allegations concern a girl under the age of 13 and is said to have taken place in May at an address in Surrey."
Best's agent described the claims as "outrageous". "George is totally innocent," he said. "We will defend this vigorously. We will certainly be suing the people who made these allegations once we have proven his innocence."
Last week the former football star spent more than nine hours at a police station in Staines, being questioned about an incident when he allegedly punched a 34-year-old woman outside the home of his former lover, Gina Devivo, in Ewell, Surrey.
The questioning was delayed because Best had a facial injury from an incident the previous week involving his lover at that time. She was cautioned by police as a result of the incident.
Belfast-born Best played 37 times for Northern Ireland and scored 136 goals for Manchester United before quitting top-class football aged 26. He later fought alcoholism and underwent a liver transplant in 2002. - (Reuters, PA)