Premiership footballer Joey Barton will spend New Year in jail after being remanded on charges of common assault and affray.
The 25-year-old Newcastle United and England midfielder was arrested in Liverpool early on Thursday following an alleged incident in the city centre.
Barton, of Foxbank Close, Widnes, Cheshire, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.
The court was told he and a group of friends were allegedly involved in two separate incidents following a row with another group inside a McDonald's restaurant in Church Street, Liverpool.
Magistrate Carol Myers remanded Barton in custody.
The player had sat through the hearing, still wearing his black shirt and jumper from Boxing Day night, with his head bowed and hidden from the press and public gallery.
The case is due back before Liverpool Magistrates on January 3 when Barton is expected to appear via videolink.
A spokesman for Newcastle United said the club was not yet making any statement.
His agent, Willie McKay, was not immediately available for comment.
Barton's brother, Andrew, 19, from Widnes, is charged with actual bodily harm and affray and Nadine Wilson, 27, from Huyton, Merseyside, who was also part of Barton's group, is charged with common assault and affray. They are both on bail to appear before magistrates next month.
