Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Stevie G: Victim or Thug?


What do you guts make of this story? Am disappointed by it all but not in the least fooking surprised there's a mancunian scummer in the middle of it all. Bastard!

Look forward to hearing yer opinions on this fooking unsavoury incident.

Steven Gerrard in custody after brawl
By Russell Jenkins (Times UK)
Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain and England international footballer, was in custody last night on suspicion of assaulting a man during a late-night brawl at a nightclub.

Gerrard, who has 70 caps for his country, was celebrating at the club in Southport when trouble broke out at about 2.30am on Monday.

It is understood that the alleged victim, Marcus McGee, who was a guest at the club, was sitting behind the bar when Gerrard asked him to change the music. He is then said to have asked for the music card that operates the sound system. Mr McGee apparently refused.

Subsequently Gerrard is said to have caught the alleged victim with an elbow, although it is not known whether this was deliberate or not. This incident is thought to have sparked the wider brawl. There were reports last night that a glass had been thrown during the fight.

Gerrard and five other men aged between 18 and 33 were arrested after the row. Merseyside Police said that Gerrard was arrested on suspicion of inflicting a malicious wound without a weapon, which amounts to grievous bodily harm. The offence attracts a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.

Mr McGee, a father of two who is thought to be a supporter of Liverpool’s great rival, Manchester United, was taken to hospital, where he received treatment for facial injuries before being released. His family said that he suffered a cut nose and swollen eye and was given four stitches. He also lost a tooth.

Gerrard, 28, who is married with two children, is understood to have been given permission by his club to attend the private party, hours after he had scored two goals in Liverpool’s 5-1 demolition of Newcastle United.

Staff at Liverpool FC declined to comment officially about the incident but there was general shock that their club captain had been caught up in such an unsavoury incident. He has the reputation of being a model professional who rarely drinks, and even more rarely stays out late.

Gerrard, who has captained England four times and is regarded as one of the world’s best midfielders, was appointed MBE last year and received an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University Sources at the club suggested that Rafael BenÍtez, the club manager and a noted disciplinarian, would take disciplinary action only if Gerrard were charged with any offence. The footballer is due to play on Saturday, when Liverpool take on Preston North End in the FA Cup third round.

The Lounge Inn, a restaurant that becomes a nightclub later in the evening, remained firmly closed yesterday despite continuing to advertise its New Year’s Eve menu at £59.95, but spots of blood were clearly visible on the floor, surrounded by shards of glass.

Mr McGee’s mother, Patricia McGee, 61, said last night: “He was only with his partner in the bar. I have absolutely no idea how he became involved in this. He was just out for a drink. The whole family is shaken up.”

John Watts, a lawyer whose daughter Eve was hosting a birthday party at the venue, said that Gerrard had been in good spirits during the night. He said: “He bought a bottle of champagne for my daughter when he found out it was her birthday.

“It was a really civilised occasion in a middle-class bar. There was no sign of trouble kicking off. Eve is very upset because it spoilt what was a very pleasant evening.”


ps: Meanwhile, a certain Portuguese prima donna was involved in handbags at ten paces in the tunnel after Boro game . . . Another incident which escapes the FA's censure after being accused of having an "anti-united agenda"? Bollocks!

25 comments:

Jonno said...

Well, reckon it's probably blew out of proportions by the media, you know how it is there. The guy probably got drunk, wanted to say something smart to Gerrard and tripped over Gerrard.
Seriously, I reckon things would clear up, it is not the first time that footballers have been like that, it'll be a shame if this is true.

anfield devotee said...

Jonno: Me is worried as Dtevie has been held longer than usual. Plus if Stevie really did lose his rag & glass the fooker, we'll be looking at the premature end of one of the club's greatest.

Whatvere it is, am sure all of us will be behind our skipper in bringing this to a speedy conclusion.

But looks like its gonna turn messy . . .

anfield devotee said...

Latest: Stevie G released around midnite.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/4016628/Steven-Gerrard-released-by-police-following-Southport-brawl.html

theALBERTUS said...

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is unlikely to face a Football Association or club charge following his arrest in a Merseyside bar.

He was released by police at 11.25pm (Liverpool time) last night.

theALBERTUS said...

latest news...

kevo said...

Yep its a shocker. If there's anything obvious about this, is that SG was provoked. Our skipper's quite a cool cat and he won't start things. But then again can also really lose it at times. I vaguely remember one pre season game with PSV when he went in with his fist first. Looked like he was gonna break up the commotion but wah thats the first i've seen of the man's rage. And yeah its also media hype lah agreed. Fookers.

SG is a well respected and adored figure in Liverpool and this will see the benefit of the doubt swing his way easy. Anyway, hope alls resolved and SG gets off on whatever the charge soon.

Bernard said...

Innocent until proven guilty. That's a basic legal tenet that we should all hold dear and you cannot exactly believe whatever you read in the British rags, especially at this juncture.

anfield devotee said...

Yes, yes, Bernard. We are all aware of that legal principle. And even more acutely aware of the media circus.

That doesn't satisfy the natural urge to know more as we are all concerned as how this event will affect our Captain.

What me wants to know is whether Gerrard has been charged after his release. There's been conflicting reports on this. Any news?

If there's a charge, it will seriously affect him & our title aspirations, don't you think?

Albertus: see above regarding CHARGE. Ada berita?

Ridzzy said...

Fook!

Woke up to this news today!
Immediately surfed some reputable sites for updates. Looks like he is being charged :(

All those charged including Stevie G to appear in Magistrates Court on 23rd January

anfield devotee said...

ridzzy: Thanx fer update. Shit. A charge will mean this will drag on & on & on . . .

Jonno said...

Apparently the brawl started when he requested the "victim", a DJ to play Phil Collins song, when the DJ refused, the brawl broke out.

Something is not right here, you reckon he'd glass the DJ over a song? Especially when there are eyewitness that said he was sober minutes before the incident. Something is seriously not right here, if anything, I reckon he'd be seriously provoked first for him to glass the Manc. Think that is a big clue here, the manc probably asked for it, or worst started it so that he could tell his mates he punched Stevie in the face, but came out worst.

anfield devotee said...

Jonno: Whtever the fook happened, we now have a bloody court case hanging over the head of our most influential player. Fook me if that doesn't affect his performances.

You just have to look back to Bowyer/Woodgate affair to see how Leeds unfolded in the process.

Fer confirmation of court date:
http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/snet-605890

Jonno said...

Agree, most are worried about his performance, but the thing is that didn't he had gangster threaten to break his legs for a couple of years and yet his performances were just as good, if not better?

I reckon there's nothing much to worried about, to quote someone from RAWK, "some lads are made of harder stuff than the rest of us and Stevie is one of them. I'm sure his game will go up a notch if that's possible to prove a point"

ISA said...

like i sms AD earlier, the sensational news was released by the SUN...then the other papers picked it up...fuck lah..it was probably nothing...charged for a little bit of handbags..the damned manc is probably just exaggerating everything. I doubt if the matter will go to trial..

Most reports are consistent..i.e stevie made a song request, manc refused, manc shoved him, stevie retaliated, stevie retreated, then all hell broke loose with stevie's mates...sounded like a whole load of fun to me. Fer Fook's sake, the manc's alive, aint he??!!!

dont worry lah...everything sure settle one lah...itu court date saja for show lah...

aku dah masuk balai lagi banyak kali...terajang kereta, pukul orang, maki orang, gaduh kat balai pun sudah biasa...

relax my brudders...the air is so much more refreshing up where we belong...

Bernard said...

See, nothing to be so concerned about as you heard it here first on FFS from our 'friendly' resident thug, Isa "Roy Keane would've been putty in my hands" A. Ibrahim!!!

Jonno said...

Me not sitting next to Isa the next time we're watching a game, don't want to kena terajang...

anfield devotee said...

Isa: Its an unwanted distration nonetheless.

As fer yer own behaviour . . . well, what can me say, yer NOT the skipper of me beloved Reds, so THUG away!

ISA said...

just checked out the headlines today...screw that shit tabloid the SUN (again...)Stevie G could face 5 years in jail (kononlah)...cibailah...saja aje nak cari pasal,celaka punyer tabloid...

hmm same criminal justice system as in woodgate's, barton's & bowyer's cases???

i agree, unwanted distraction but i have faith in our skipper. He'll come through ok..

AND to ALL, have a Happy New Year and lets all wish to be happier come MAY..

anfield devotee said...

Article that probably sums up how most of us feel:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/2008/12/30/steven-gerrard-arrest-brawl-claim-is-like-poison-to-model-pro-115875-21004312/

Ridzzy said...

Fook,

Any rumours about who rafa has in mind for january transfer window?

Praxi said...

I'd get beaten up if I throw in a comment right?

Unknown said...

Ok Bala

On an entirely different note - you HAVE to make this yer next posting:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B00006BXGK/ref=pd_krex_listen_dp_img?ie=UTF8&refTagSuffix=dp_img

Won't spoil it for the rest by putting a title to it :)

anfield devotee said...

lah: not really no but suffice to say its nothing Roy Keane, Paul McGrath & a certain Portuguuse winker hasn't done before . . .

jorge said...

He's a thug.

jorge said...

A thug without the common decency to plead guilty to a violent low-life act he, without any doubt whatsoever, committed.