A British footballer at the centre of a gagging order has finally been named after weeks of speculation and media attention.

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs had been involved in an extra marital affair with a former Big Brother contestant - Imogen Thomas, but used used an injunction to keep details out of the press.

Meanwhile his mistress Thomas, was publicly vilified for the affair.

News that Giggs was the man in question began surfacing on Twitter and on Sunday a Scottish newspaper printed a photo of the player and said it could no longer support a gagging order when thousands of people were naming him on Twitter.  

The public nail in the coffin came when Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming named Giggs, using his right to freedom of speech within the house of Commons.

A row has now ensued over privacy laws and the internet.

Giggs is expected to be part of Manchester United's team for the Champions League final against Barcelona on Saturday.