Chelsea stars in court over fracas

Three footballers appeared in court today in connection with an alleged assault on a nightclub doorman.

John Terry, 22, and Jody Morris, 23, who both play for Chelsea, and the 20-year-old Wimbledon defender, Desmond Byrne, were remanded on conditional bail to appear before Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court on April 9.

All three spoke only to confirm their names and dates of birth during the hearing at London's Horseferry Road Magistrates Court.

Terry is accused of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having a glass bottle as an offensive weapon during an alleged fracas at the private members Wellington Club in central London on January 4 this year.

He faces a separate count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Byrne is also charged with having a bottle as an offensive weapon.

All three men are accused jointly of affray.

The trio, whose addresses cannot be published for legal reasons, did not enter any pleas and reporting restrictions were not lifted.