Steven Gerrard on his knees. Photo credit: Picassa web albums

A tipster has alerted The Periscope Post to some rather salacious rumours about England footballer Steven Gerrard, that may help explain the England team’s appalling performance at the 2010 Football World Cup. Indeed, even some cursory investigation suggests that The Periscope Post is not the only news organization that’s heard the rumours.

The bottom line is that there has been speculation about whether footballer Gerrard may have engaged in an affair with, and made pregnant, his wife’s sister. This news, so the rumour goes, was known to the rest of the England team throughout their time in South Africa. Half the team supported Gerrard and the other half turned against him in disgust. To make matters worse, the incident apparently prompted John Terry to confront coach Capello for not removing Gerrard from the Captaincy.  Shortly before the start of the World Cup, Terry had been stripped of his title as England Captain following revelations about his own indiscretions.

All this apparently led to considerable tension among the players and in particular between Terry and Gerrard. So are these rumours just desperate attempts to explain the England football team’s early exit from the World Cup, or is there some basis for the allegations? All comments, leads, clarifications welcomed here at The Periscope Post either through the comments field or through our anonymous tipster button.