LONDON, Dec 27: Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland football star George Best spent 11 hours under arrest Friday in connection with an alleged assault on his estranged wife Alex, a top-selling British newspaper said on Saturday.

Best, 57, was arrested after a drunken tiff with his wife in the south England town of Reigate where he and Alex once shared a house, The Sun tabloid said.

“A 57-year-old male was arrested on Dec 26 at approximately 2 am in Reigate, in relation to an allegation of assault,” police said, refusing to confirm his identity or the victim of the alleged assault.

“He has been released without charge and no allegation is being pursued by any party,” police said.

The reported arrest is the latest drama in the life of the football legend who split from 31-year-old Alex in September after failing to give up drinking despite undergoing a liver transplant in July 2002.

“We just wanted a nice Christmas. It was meant to be amicable,” Alex was quoted as saying by The Sun.

“He started drinking and then this happened,” Alex said, reportedly pointing to a bruise on her lip.

Best was one of the stars of the Manchester United team that won the European Cup in 1968 and a combination of talent and good looks made him Britain’s first ‘superstar’ player.—AFP