Ben Stokes’ wife, Clare, has blasted reports that the England cricketer ‘choked’ her at the Professional Cricketers’ Association Awards Fiftieth Anniversary party.
She said that the pair squish each others faces as a sign of affection, and any other claims were made up.
Clare Stokes claims a photographer twisted the image into a crazy story, when they were enjoying a meal together just 20 minutes later.
She tweeted: “Unbelievable what nonsense these people will make up!
“Me and Ben messing about squishing up each other’s faces cos that’s how we show affection and some pap tries to twist it in to a crazy story!
“And all before we then have a romantic McDonalds 20 mins later! @benstokes38”.
Ben retweeted Clare’s comments, and simply captioned it with a kissing face emoji.
Reports claimed that Ben and Clare were enjoying the evening at the party, which took place on Wednesday last week.
The pair were then supposed to have been involved in a ‘row’, before Ben allegedly grabbed his wife in a ‘chokehold’.
Both Ben and Clare left the party minutes after the alleged incident. But it turns out they were simply heading to McDonalds.
The claims came after Stokes was the subject of a national newspaper reporting on his private life.
Stokes posted a lengthy statement, condemning the “low and despicable behaviour”.
The England all-rounder was swiftly given the support of his international team-mates, including from Jos Buttler and captain Joe Root.
Stokes is the hot favourite to win this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, after a terrific cricketing year.
He was England’s hero during the Cricket World Cup final, when it appeared that Eoin Morgan’s side were down and out.
Stokes was an absolute machine in the final few overs the match, and forced an unlikely Super Over, which England won.
He was also the star man in an incredible comeback victory for England against Australia in the third Test of the Ashes series.
He scored an unbeaten 315 at Headingley to round off a final-wicket stand of 76 with Jack Leach, and brought Root’s team back into the series.