England footballer Steven Gerrard has been found not guilty of affray by Liverpool Crown Court.
The Liverpool captain admitted hitting Marcus McGee (34), in a bar last December and a jury at the city’s Crown Court accepted his explanation that it was in self-defence.
The 29-year-old was the only one of seven defendants to be cleared over the “explosion of violence” at the Lounge Inn in Southport, Merseyside, during which Mr McGee lost a tooth and suffered facial cuts.
Gerrard showed no emotion when the jury foreman delivered the not guilty verdict after 70 minutes of deliberation.
Judge Henry Globe told the footballer: "The verdict is a credible verdict on the full facts of this case, and you walk away from this court with your reputation intact." He said the evidence showed Gerrard had not started the violence.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Gerrard said: "I'm really looking forward to the season and concentrating on the football now. I’d like to say a big thank you to my legal team, my friends and family and to everyone at Liverpool Football Club for supporting me.”
During his trial, Gerrard admitted striking Mr McGee, but said he had been acting out of self-defence.
Prosecutors said Mr McGee had been in charge of music for the night at the Lounge Bar in Southport, near Liverpool, and had refused to let Gerrard take control of a CD player.
Gerrard was celebrating with friends after he scored twice in a 5-1 Premier League win at Newcastle United.
The court was told that one of Gerrard's friends had elbowed Mr McGee and the player then landed punches "with the style and speed" of a professional boxer.
Gerrard told the jury he estimated he had been seven out of 10 on a drunkenness scale but had not lost control. He said he had been given permission by the bar manager to help choose music but Mr McGee had snatched a music card from him.
A fight then broke out after Gerrard approached Mr McGee to find out why he had been so aggressive.
"It was very difficult at the time to explain to police why I did throw that first punch. We were arguing and I told the police I felt that Marcus came towards me and that's why I raised my arms," he told the court."I firmly believed Marcus came towards me to hit me."
Five other men who were with Gerrard on the night have admitted affray. They are Ian Gerrard Smith (19), of Hilary Avenue; John Doran (29), of Woodlands Road; and Paul McGrattan (31), of Linden Drive, all Huyton.
Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant (19), of Enstone Avenue, Litherland, and Ian Dunbavin (28), of Guildford Road, Southport, also admitted affray.
Another friend of Gerrard's, John McGrattan (34), of Rimmer Avenue, Huyton, admitted threatening behaviour.
PA