Footballers 'brawled with bouncers'

The three footballers deny the charges against them

Three footballers were involved in a brawl at a celebrity nightclub in which a bouncer was hit in the face with a bottle, a court has been told.

Wimbledon defender Des Byrne, 21 and Chelsea players John Terry, 21, and Jody Morris, 23 are accused of brawling with doormen at The Wellington in Knightsbridge, central London.

The men have denied a joint charge of affray.

Prosecutor Jeremy Donne told Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court: "It started with the loutish behaviour of Jody Morris, it escalated into an attack upon a doorman by Byrne and Terry, supported by Morris, and it ended in a brawl involving all three."

'Ferocious' attack

The court heard that the footballers allegedly became aggressive after being asked to leave the club because of Mr Morris's "loutish behaviour".

He was said to have told doorman Trevor Thirlwall: "Do you know how much I earn? I earn more in a day than you earn in a week. Do you know who we are? We could get you sacked."

Mr Donne said they pushed their way back into the club and forced Mr Thirlwall back across the reception area with the "ferocity of the attack".

But it was when the fight spilled back outside that Mr Terry is accused of hitting Mr Thirlwall in the face with a bottle.

Mr Donne said: "Trevor Thirlwall immediately felt what he described in a statement to police as an explosion of pain in his eye followed by the loss of vision in it.

Offensive weapon

"Miraculously the bottle did not break on impact - it is terrifying to think what could have happened if it had.

"As it was, Trevor Thirlwall's face was cut around the orbit of his left eye."

He added: "As Mr Brice helped the injured and defenceless Mr Thirlwall into the club at least one bottle was thrown at them smashing on the wall and the ground by the entrance."

John Terry has pleaded not guilty to one count of wounding with intent to cause serious injury and one count of possessing a glass bottle as an offensive weapon.

Des Byrne has denied possessing an offensive weapon.

The trial continues.