Shocking footage of football star’s brawl

Friday 3rd September 2010, 11:30AM BST.

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This is the moment West Bromwich Albion star Joe Mattock lashed out at four people in a Midland nightclub, knocking one of his victims unconscious and leaving the others with cuts, bruises and chipped teeth.

The England Under 21 ace attacked two women and two men after “getting grief” for leaving his home town club Leicester City for Albion in a £1 million deal. The 20-year-old launched the attack in the Liquid Envy club in Leicester on August 30 last year.

In jeans and t-shirt, Mattock was caught on camera hurling punches as he stood in front of the bar. Shocked revellers looked on as he carried out the assault, which was described as “explosive” by a judge.

The defender was yesterday  spared an immediate custodial sentence at Leicester Crown Court, where he was given 10 months detention suspended for two years.

Today, his actions were branded “completely unacceptable” by the Crown Prosecution Service while West Bromwich Albion said he would undergo disciplinary proceedings.

Lawrence English, of  Leicestershire and Rutland CPS, said: “He lashed out at four people, knocking one unconscious and causing cuts, bruises and chipped teeth to the others.

“These actions are completely unacceptable, whether or not the assailant is a professional footballer.”

Mattock, who pleaded guilty to affray last month, was also order to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 costs.

The star, of Grove Road, Leicester, claimed the fight started after he was criticised by a girl and her boyfriend for joining Albion.

England Under 21 manager Stuart Pearce wrote a letter to Judge Michael Pert QC saying Mattock was a man of good character.

Judge Pert QC said: “You were a successful professional footballer. You were earning what most people would regard as a king’s ransom. If the price of that is to take some stick in a nightclub, frankly you should have been able to handle it. Your behaviour was disgraceful.”

The judge also criticised Mattock for changing T-shirts with a friend after the fight to avoid detection.

Baggies spokesman John Simpson said: “Joe will now be subject to internal disciplinary proceedings, the outcome of which will remain confidential. He will have learned a hard and important lesson during this process.”



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