Joey Barton released on bail after nightclub brawl

Joey Barton has been released on bail pending further inquiries after he was arrested on suspicion of affray following an altercation outside a Liverpool nightclub.

The Queens Park Rangers midfielder was involved in a scuffle in the early hours of Monday morning which resulted in the arrests of two 21-year-old men.

Barton was this evening detained by Merseyside police, who wished to question the Hoops captain about the incident.

A police statement read: "Following an altercation in Eberle Street, Liverpool city centre, in the early hours of this morning, four men have been arrested on suspicion of affray.

"Two 21-year-old men were arrested at the scene in the early hours of this morning and another two men, a 20-year-old from the Liverpool area and 29-year-old from the Widnes area, were arrested this afternoon.

"The two 21-year-old men and the 20-year-old man have been questioned by officers and have been released on bail pending further inquiries. The 29-year-old man remains in police custody where he will be questioned by detectives."

In a club statement released earlier today, Rangers said that Barton wishes to put the incident behind him and would not be pressing charges against the others involved.