On the dry in the desert

Paul Gascoigne will be thankful he was not born in Saudi Arabia

Paul Gascoigne will be thankful he was not born in Saudi Arabia. Saeed Owairan, the attacking midfielder who is expected to play at Wembley today, was convicted of "immoral acts" and thrown in jail for six months after being caught drinking.

The Islamic country has a strict no-alcohol law and when, two years ago, Owairan was found in the incriminating presence of drink and women at a party in 1995, he was locked up and banned from playing football for a year.

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