Paul Gascoigne under police investigation after allegedly making racist joke while on stage

The crowd at the 'An Audience with Paul Gascoigne' event reportedly gasped after Gascoigne allegedly told a black security guard: 'If you weren't smiling, I wouldn't be able to see you.'

Paul Gascoigne arrives at Stevenage Magistrates Court in 2013, where he pleaded guilty to common assault and drunk and disorderly behaviour at a train station (Getty)

Former footballer Paul Gascoigne is reportedly at the centre of a hate crime investigation after being accused of making a racist joke during a show in Wolverhampton last month.

Gascoigne, who made 57 appearances for England during his playing career, allegedly made the comments during an event called 'An Audience with Paul Gascoigne' at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on 30 November.

The Birmingham Mail reported that Gascoigne made the comment when he noticed a black security guard standing in a darkened part of the stage and said: "If you weren't smiling, I wouldn't be able to see you."

Speaking to the paper, one audience member said there were "gasps", and claimed "Gazza knew what he'd done straight away."

A review of the show in a local Wolverhampton newspaper also mentioned the comment, saying: "The Civic took an audible gasp as the laughter instantly dropped from raucous to nervous."

West Midlands Police confirmed that an investigation was underway, and said: "Officers have taken an official statement from the victim and the inquiry is ongoing."

"Police take reports of hate crime extremely seriously and a thorough investigation will take place."

"Anyone who is a victim of this type of offence should not have to suffer in silence and is encouraged to report it to police on 101 or via the internet at report-it.org.uk."

They added: "We will neither confirm nor deny any names at his stage.”

Gascoigne's struggles with alcohol addiction and his mental health are well-documented, but the sportsman was reportedly in good spirits on the day of the show, taking time to visit three-year-old Georgie Gibbs, a cerebral palsy sufferer from Worcester who is currently at the centre of a fundraising campaign to raise money for her treatment.

Gascoigne also reportedly began the show by telling the audience that it had been nine months since his last alcoholic drink.

Gascoigne is set to resume his speaking tour with the 'Up Close and Personal' event at Nottingham's Theatre Royal on 9 January 2016.