Evidence presented in court shows Liverpool captain’s darker side

While his colleagues spread the word of Liverpool FC across Asia, Steven Gerrard MBE this week finds himself in Liverpool crown court, defending a charge of affray that he earned on a marvellous night of drinking and punching in Merseyside last December.

Celebrating a 5-1 victory that would later help Newcastle find a new division, the Liverpool captain went to a restaurant/ disco in Southport, where he entered into a row with 34-year-old ‘businessman’ Marcus McGee. The court heard that Mr McGee was in charge of the playlist at a staff party at the venue, but Stevie G demanded some input into the choice of music. When McGee refused to surrender control of the CD player, he became the man “who has said ‘No’ to Steven Gerrard”.

A fracas ensued, and The Guardian pick up the story from where the CCTV footage moves to the bar area:

The prosecution say that six minutes later, he returned to the bar, approached McGee who was sitting alone at the bar and confronted him with the words: “Who the fuck do you think you are?”"Steven Gerrard had clearly lost his cool - he was very angry with Marcus McGee.”

One of Gerrard’s friends. John Doran, pushed McGee away and elbowed him in the face. The prosecution claims Gerrard then “totally lost it”.

“Almost immediately after the blow from John Doran, in fact within seconds, Steven Gerrard joined in the attack with a succession of well-aimed uppercut punches, delivered with the style and speed of a professional boxer, rather than professional footballer.”

Ian Smith, another member of Gerrard’s party, joined in. Doran and Smith then kicked McGee.

Even though Gerrard delivered the first blow, his counsel are arguing that the attack on McGee was in ’self defence’. The prosecution have asserted that “This was never self-defence in 100 years.”

Gerrard’s do-defendants have all pleaded guilty, meaning the family man is fighting the charge alone.

The trial continues, and is expected to last around a week.

Chilean internationals fight it out over attractive lady

It seems that Steven Gerrard isn’t the only one arguing with his fists over this festive period.

Inter Milan midfielder Luis Jimenez has held a grudge over fellow Chilean international Mauricio Pinilla after the South American press claimed the latter had slept with the former’s wife, extremely good looking model Maria Jose Lopez (pictured above).

A few days ago, the footballers happened to be enjoying the same Santiago nightclub during their respective Christmas breaks, when angry Jimenez reportedly attacked his love rival with a blunt instrument. After receiving three blows to the head, Pinilla was admitted to hospital with a head trauma and neck injuries.

Spoiler bonus: Awaiting paparazzi found the lady at the centre of the argument speeding away in her hideously unsubtle Hummer, and proved that they are even more intrusive than the British press when a reporter opened the door of her moving vehicle, forcing her to slow down and have her picture taken. Check out a video of the kerfuffle after the jump…

Hull stars guilty of “violent and appalling behaviour”

Following in the noble footsteps of Craig Bellamy, Dean Windass and Marlon King staged a fight at a casino. The lucky venue was the Scarborough Opera House Casino, where the Hull stars kicked off at 3am last night:

A witness said: “Windass appeared to say something to King that had him raging like a bull. King was shouting, ‘You b*****d. Wait until I tell my boy what you said’.

“Windass shouted back, ‘It was a joke. You know f*** all about anything’.

“King then threw himself at Windass, headbutting him in the face. There was blood and drinks were sent flying.

“It was embarrassing. They were like snarling animals.”

King, who has been keeping veteran Windass out of the Hull team, is also said to have insulted staff and pretended that his £19,000 watch had been stolen, despite witnesses seeing him slip it into his own pocket.

The Jamaican has clearly acted abhorrently, but hats off to him for having the gall to fight Dean Windass. Most people would probably rather take on a family of starved bears while smeared in honey than fight Dean Windass.

[The Sun]

Fans incapacitated with silly string, according to picture below

In preparation for Thursday’s match against the MLS all-stars, West Ham somehow found themselves in Columbus, Ohio for a friendly against The Crew. Things were going well yesterday, until shortly after half time, when Hammers fans decided to unfurl a banner reading “ICF [Inner City Firm], 30 Years Undefeated.” Then it all done gone kicked off man:

A halftime brawl between more than 100 fans marred an exhibition match Sunday between West Ham United of the English Premier League club and the MLS’ Columbus Crew.

The fights, which overshadowed West Ham United’s 3-1 win, began when a handful of West Ham supporters, some wearing the team’s claret and blue colors, entered the northeast corner of the stadium where the Crew’s most boisterous supporters typically gather.

Crew supporters began directing chants toward the rival fans, and fights quickly broke out between more than 100 Crew fans and at least 30 West Ham fans. Columbus police officers and Crew Stadium security staff eventually separated the groups.

At first glance, it looks as if East London’s finest have been mixin’ it up with their fists in the Midwest without just cause. However it seems that most Americans’ impression of the club has been gained from Green Street, and they were hellbent on goading them for it. A Big Soccer blogger writes:

 ”HSH (Harley Street Hooligans) wanted a fight. They had a banner saying “where’s Elijah Wood?” They

Portsmouth love rat inspires more hatred in serial on/off WAG

Danielle Lloyd was paying a visit to London nightspot Funky Buddha last night (Dani in a nightclub on a school night? I know, I’m as surprised as you are) when she ran into a spot of bother with an another ex-rutt partner of Portsmouth playa Jermain Defoe. (Bearing in mind that Defoe has probably slept with the majority of the female patrons in any given London nightclub, it’s impossible to identify the girl at this point.) Apparently, things got fierce and Dani threw a glass of booze in the girl’s face, which led to her forced ejection from the club.

What could have enraged the former reality television racist so much? Did the alcohol soaked lady try to discredit