Gascoigne's family "powerless" to help him fight

LONDON (AP) - Paul Gascoigne's former step daughter has said the former England midfielder's family is "powerless" to help him in his struggle against alcoholism.

The 40-year-old Gascoigne was subject to complaints on Sunday that he was drunk and disruptive at a London hotel, the latest in a string of incidents involving him.

Already this year, police visited a Newcastle hotel to investigate reports that he was acting erratically. And two weeks later, in February, he was forcibly detained to receive treatment for mental health problems.

"I really thought that he was getting better, but at the weekend he took a turn for the worst," Bianca Gascoigne said Wednesday. "I have learnt that my dad is seriously ill and it is something we are powerless to control or to help with."

The former Newcastle, Tottenham and Rangers playmaker - nicknamed "Gazza" - made 57 appearances for England and was widely regarded as the most gifted player of his generation. But his career was cut short by injuries and off-field troubles, including heavy drinking.

Bianca Gascoigne is the daughter of Gascoigne's former wife, Sheryl, and fell out with the former England star after criticizing his erratic behavior. But she said Wednesday that she still hoped he could recover.

"Over the last few months we have done everything in our power to try and get my dad through this hard time," she said. "In this time, I have rebuilt bridges with him and spent a lot of time talking to him on the phone.

"I hope that everyone can respect the privacy we need while dealing with this together and we pray that he will overcome his troubles."