LONDON _ England and Arsenal defender Ashley Cole received an apology and damages on Sunday from a newspaper wrongly linking him to a "gay orgy."

England's David Beckham celebrates his goal against Ecuador with ashley Cole. [Reuters]

The News of the World ran articles on February 12 and 19 alleging two unnamed Premier League players and a radio DJ had used a mobile phone as a "gay sex toy." The February 19 story was accompanied by a partially obscured photograph.

The story did not name the players, but rumors spread on the Internet that Cole was one of them.

Lawyers for Cole, who played in England's World Cup match against Ecuador later Sunday, and Choice FM DJ Ian Thompson _ known as Masterstepz _ launched libel and other proceedings against the News of the World and The Sun in March.

"Although the photograph was pixellated some readers have understood Mr. Cole to be one of the (players) and Masterstepz to be the DJ concerned," a page-three apology in Sunday's News of the World read. "We are happy to make clear that Mr. Cole and Masterstepz were not involved in any such activities."

The amount to be paid in damages to the two men was not disclosed.