Lineker and Kewell reach a settlement

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Gary Lineker and Liverpool star Harry Kewell have settled their High Court libel case, according to media repoers. It comes after the jury was discharged after the six men and six women failed to reach a verdict. They were unable to decide if comments made by TV host Lineker in a newspaper about Kewell's transfer from Leeds were defamatory.

Kewell, 26, had sought damages for the "hurtful and humiliating attack" in a July 2003 Sunday Telegraph column. The terms of the settlement have not been revealed but Kewell's solicitor, Chris Farnell, said: "Parties have come to an agreement and they won't be seeking a new trial. We don't intend to comment on the terms of the settlement." During a seven-day trial in June, Australian international Kewell claimed Lineker, 44, had accused him of being a fool and implied he was guilty of dishonourable conduct over his transfer to Liverpool in 2003. He declined to confirm whether Lineker had admitted any liability. The newspaper's sports Editor Jon Ryan and the Telegraph Group Ltd faced the same charge. The defendants pleaded not guilty to libel and argued the remarks made in the column were fair comment.