This is a sad story.

At age 15, you are signed for a record, over $2 million, to play soccer, and now as an adult, you are a soccer ace being paid millions of dollars per year.

That was the life of Jermaine Pennant that changed dramatically when News of the World broke undercover surveillance videos of his father, Gary, living the life …. of a drug dealer.

And now, one magazine is saying sources close to the soccer son report the son has made the sad decision to distance himself from his dad.

British mag the Sun says the star “told pals of his agony at having to cut off the man who shaped his career. One said: “He realises he can have nothing more to do with him. It’s heartbreaking, because he knows the sacrifices Gary made for him. The life Gary has now was what lay in store for Jermaine. But his dad steered him away from it.” …. The star was unavailable for comment, but previously admitted of his upbringing: “It was hard. There’s a lot of crime, a lot of gun crime, drugs. And it’s got worse.But I did have good people around me. My dad made sure I stuck with football.”

Click here for the sad pictures of Jermaine’s dad.