Rugby player glassed bouncer on big night out

Court: Wanderers man refused to leave nightclub

An Aberdeen rugby player has admitted attacking a nightclub bouncer with a glass, leaving him requiring hospital treatment.

Simon Zubairu hit the doorman at Aberdeen’s Cheerz Bar and Nightclub over the head with a glass during a “struggle” on a boozy Christmas night out.

The night out on December 17 last year had been organised as a festive celebration by rugby club Aberdeen Wanderers.Zubairu was attending as a member of its senior squad.

At the same time, many took the chance to congratulate him on his recent engagement to his fiancée by buying him drinks at the bar.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday defence agent Gail Goodfellow said: “Unfortunately he had far more to drink than he would normally. He recalls being in the bar and in a queue to order drinks and it was very busy. A female attempted to push him out of the way which led him to tell her he wasn’t moving so she complained to the bar staff.”

Mrs Goodfellow said her client felt the woman was “telling lies” about the situation and what had happened. The court was told Zubairu had been ordered to leave the premises but refused.

The agent added: “He was taken hold of by a number of door staff. Clearly there was a struggle.”

Witnesses said Zubairu had picked up a glass from a table near the front door and struck one of the bouncers over the head with it.

The man was seen “bleeding heavily” and was left with a two-inch cut which had to be glued up in hospital.

Mrs Goodfellow said the 29-year-old, who has since moved to Kent and works in London, was “understandably upset” and “remorseful” about what happened.

Yesterday Sheriff Hall ordered Zubairu to pay a £200 fine and a further £1,500 in compensation to the doorman he attacked.