[goldenHuddlestone]

Premiership star Anton Ferdinand was ordered today to stand trial following an alleged brawl.

The West Ham defender and younger brother of Manchester United star Rio was arrested outside Faces nightclub in Ilford, east London, on October 2 last year.

The 22-year-old, sporting a cornrow hairstyle with collar-length braids, was smartly dressed in a dark grey suit, white shirt and black tie for an 18-minute plea and case management hearing at Londons Snaresbrook Crown Court.

He spoke only to confirm his name and deny charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and violent disorder.

The indictment, read out by the clerk, identified his alleged victim as Emile Walker.

Appearing with the player, of Grove Park Road, Mottingham, south east London, was Edward Dawkins, 28, of Henry Adlington Close, Beckton, east London.

He faces similar charges and pleaded not guilty.

Allowing both unconditional bail, Judge Martyn Zeidman QC said their five-day trial would be listed for November 12.

He then warned the privately represented footballer and his co-accused: "You must turn up, obviously. If you were not to turn up, you would be committing an offence under the Bail Act and you would be taken into custody. In addition, the jury would not hear from you because the trial would go ahead in any event."

[Matt the Thrasher]

Looks like Anton could be going down in more ways than one.

[VanBasten]

Why can't players just concentrate on their football?
They are already leading a very charmed life now.