Steven Gerrard to appear in court following alleged nightclub attack

England star Gerrard, 28, is due to appear at North Sefton Magistrates' Court, in Southport after part-time disc jockey Marcus McGee was allegedly left with bruises and a missing tooth after a fight in the town's Lounge Club on December 29. He is charged, along with two other men, John Doran, 29, and Ian Gerard Smith, 19, both of Huyton. At least 25 police officers are also expected to be manning the court to prevent disorder, while a Merseyside Police spokesperson said the public gallery would be closed. A court spokesperson said: "The court manager met with police and decided the public gallery would not be open for safety reasons." Police last week arrested 28-year-old Ian Dunbavin, the goalkeeper of Accrington Stanley Football Club in connection with the brawl. Coleen Rooney's Brother Anthony McLoughlin, 19, was also detained on suspicion of assault. He was released without charge on police bail. Gerrard had been celebrating his side's 5-1 win over Newcastle United, in which he scored twice, when a row was said to have broken out involving Mr McGee about the music being played at The Lounge Inn. Gerrard is understood to have asked Mr McGee, a friend of the restaurant's owner, if he could borrow a swipe card which staff must use to operate the music system behind the bar. Mr McGee is said to have refused to provide his card. Gerrard has been a key part of Liverpool's push for a first title in almost 20 years. He has also been an influential member of Fabio Capello's England side, who have made an unbeaten start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. He emerged from the half-hour hearing to thank photographers and a handful of supporters.Merseyside Police had cordoned off the court with steel riot barriers after a "Support Stevie G" group was set up on the social networking site Facebook.Police sources said they expected as many as several hundred supporters and defended their decision to close the actual court to the public on safety grounds.

Source: Telegraph