Former England footballer and television presenter John Fashanu has announced he is divorcing his wife, Vivian, and issued a public apology to his daughter, Amal.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Fashanu, who hosted the TV show Gladiators for six seasons in the 1990s, said he had been misinformed by his wife. "I was misinformed by my wife Vivian, who I’m sorry to say I am divorcing," Fashanu stated. "Now that I am aware of the truth I apologise to my daughter Amal and legal action will be taken against the liar."
Fashanu, 63, also expressed regret for allowing unnecessary division between himself and his daughter. "My soon-to-be ex-wife, Vivian, created unnecessary division between me and my daughter, and I deeply regret allowing that to happen," he said. He added that his daughter Amal "will always be my first daughter, and she will always have a place by my side, helping me with my affairs."
Fashanu's apology comes after earlier claims made by his daughter, Amal. She had reportedly said they had reconciled ahead of her wedding and expressed hope he would attend, but also mentioned he had been unwell with a mystery condition. Fashanu had initially refuted these claims, suggesting his daughter was attempting to defame him.
During his football career, Fashanu played for multiple clubs, most notably Wimbledon, where he scored over 100 goals and won the 1988 FA Cup. After retiring from playing in his early 30s due to injury, he moved into television presenting.
