Footballer accused over brawl

The "arrogance" of a former Newcastle football player who now plays for Brighton and Hove Albion sparked a mass brawl, a court heard. Kazenga Lua Lua is on trial over the incident which took place outside a Newcastle nightclub in June last year.

Footballer 'refused to apologise' before nightclub fight

Kazenga Lua Lua was a Newcastle United player when the alleged fight took place.

Footballer Kazenga Lua Lua admitted in a police interview that he was outside a nightclub when he walked between Michael Ball and a friend, a court heard.

Prosecutor James Adkin told the jury: "Lua Lua was told he really should say 'excuse me'.

"He said he was not going to apologise and admitted being deliberately provocative and doing it again."

The footballer, 21, from Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, claimed he was pushed and so slapped the man back. He then moved from the violence that followed.

The trial continues.

Marine broke up brawl 'sparked by footballer's attitude'

Kazenga Lua Lua played for Newcastle United at the time of the alleged incident. Credit: Tony Marshall/EMPICS Sport

A confrontation between footballer Kazenga Lua Lua and Michael Ball was the spark that caused a "significant upsurge in violence," a court heard.

James Adkin, prosecuting, said: "A man called Jordan Bogie, who tried to help Mr Ball, was punched to the floor and was repeatedly kicked while he was unable to defend himself." Mr Adkin said an aggressive group of black men had "surged over to the white males" and punched and kicked them.

He added: "Mr Bogie was saved by a Royal Marine who was out separately that night, and who later told the police he believed the black men were the aggressors."

Mr Bogie was knocked unconscious for eight minutes after the five-on-one attack, the court heard. Another man was knocked over after trying to help Mr Ball and curled into a ball to protect himself from kicks, the jury heard. The trial continues.


Footballer's 'arrogance' sparked mass brawl outside nightclub

Brighton's Kazenga Lua Lua celebrates scoring at the AMEX Stadium. Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Archive/Press Association Images

The "arrogance" of a former Newcastle United football player who now plays for Brighton and Hove Albion sparked a mass brawl outside a nightclub, a court heard.

Kazenga Lua Lua, a former Premier League player, who now plies his trade in the Championship, his friend Andy Mogwo and co-accused Kevin Ashong - who claimed to have heard a racial insult - denied the affray at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court heard about the serious disorder outside the Riverside club on the city's quayside in the early hours of 26 June last year.

Lua Lua started the violence after he argued with a man called Michael Ball outside the club, and punched him in the face, the jury heard.

The trial continues.