Soccer: I ran for my life, says student 'attacked by footballers'

An Asian student has told a jury he ran for his life as he was chased by a group of Leeds United footballers.

Sarfraz Najeib, 20, had left the Majestyk nightclub in Leeds city centre when he was knocked to the ground by a man, the court heard.

Mr Najeib told the jury at Hull Crown Court he had earlier seen the men drinking champagne in the nightclub. After he left the club one of the group punched him, sending his glasses flying.

"One of the guys said something to me and after a few seconds hit me round the back of the head," said Mr Najeib. "I fell to the ground and my glasses went flying. I quickly turned round and saw a guy coming towards me and in self-defence I hit him back.

"I thought he was going to hit me again. I jumped up to my feet and heard my brother shouting 'run'. I was just running for my life. I was scared for my life and I was concentrating on running away."

The court has heard he was repeatedly kicked and punched as he lay unconscious on the ground.

Mr Najeib said he had 12 stitches on the side of his head above his left ear. His nose was broken in three places, he had a fractured bone immediately above the nose and his cheekbones were broken. He was now paranoid about going out.

Leeds United footballers Lee Bowyer, 24, of Leeds, Jonathan Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough, and Tony Hackworth 20, of Leeds, all deny causing Mr Najeib, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, grievous bodily harm with intent. They also deny affray.

Two other men, Paul Clifford, 21, of Middlesbrough, and Neale Caveney, 21, of Middlesbrough, also deny causing grievous bodily harm and affray.

Woodgate, Caveney and Clifford, together with Leeds United player Michael Duberry, 24, of Leeds, also deny conspiring to pervert the course of justice.