Ferdinand was 'protecting friend'

Anton Ferdinand said he was acting in self-defence

Footballer Anton Ferdinand has told a court he punched a man outside a nightclub "to protect" a friend.

He said he hit Emile Walker when he saw him running aggressively towards Edward Dawkins, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

Mr Walker, 23, claims Mr Ferdinand, 22, struck him before he was kicked and punched by up to 10 people outside Faces in Ilford, east London, in 2006.

Mr Ferdinand and Mr Dawkins of Beckton, east London, deny assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

'Bust lip'

The West Ham player said he was unaware that a friend, who has not been identified, had hit Mr Walker outside the club before he became involved.

He said: "I saw Emile Walker aggressively running towards my friend and I'm fearing the worst.

"My purpose was to go and protect my friend."

He said he tried to restrain Mr Walker but the pair ended up wrestling on the ground.

Mr Ferdinand said he suffered a "bust lip" and a moved tooth during the scuffle, and received treatment the following day.

He said: "After feeling the pain that I felt from that blow, which shook me up and scared me, I wanted to protect myself - I tried to hit him back."

Mr Ferdinand said he was not an aggressive man and often worked with children from Peckham, south-east London, to advise them against using violence.

The trial continues.