Arsenal star's brother denies attack

Sol Campbell's brother feared for his life when he was attacked by a footballer who called the England defender gay, a court heard today.

John Campbell said a fight broke out on a local football club pitch after fellow player Mark Golstein insulted Sol.

He told Snaresbrook Crown Court: "He said something like 'Your brother is gay. He is f******* gay, isn't he?'."

Campbell, who is charged with causing GBH with intent, said he acted in self-defence after Mr Golstein threw the first punch.

"I said 'What are you talking about?', that sort of thing," he said, adding: "He hit me, punched me in the chin."

In a statement to police, Campbell said he was in fear of his life during the fight at Clapton FC on February 26 .

The 34-year-old, of Hathaway Crescent, Manor Park, east London, described how he and Mr Golstein fell to the ground as they wrestled with each other.

He told the court: "He was kneeing me. I was on top of him and his hands were round the back of my neck by this time. He just started kneeing me. I felt some pain in my side because of it. I just reacted and I swung out."

Campbell said he was "just swinging" at Mr Golstein in an attempt to free himself.

He described suffering a bruised side and sore jaw as a result of the fight but said he was unaware that Mr Golstein was left unconscious and with a shattered jaw.

The fight broke up after someone grabbed Campbell from behind and pulled him off Mr Golstein.

The defendant said: "I felt funny, weird, like it wasn't real, sort of thing."

Under cross-examination, Campbell told the court he did not report the fight to the police, saying: "With football, it is not a thing where you go to the police, to be honest with you, when there are fights. People don't go straight to the police."

Shown photographs of Mr Golstein's injury, Campbell said: "I didn't do all this to him. I didn't think I did."

Mark Tomassi, prosecuting, told the defendant: "You repeatedly kicked him and you repeatedly stamped on his head wearing football boots."

Campbell denies the single charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.