Soccer - Court Case:Steven Gerrard apologised in court today for lashing out three times at a man in a bar brawl, saying he mistakenly feared being attacked. The Liverpool captain said he was sorry for his part in the trouble with businessman Marcus McGee in the early hours of December 29th last year.

He said he regretted hitting the 34-year-old victim in a row over music but insisted he thought McGee was about to attack him.

Gerrard denies affray at Liverpool Crown Court.

Asked what McGee said to him, Gerrard apologised to the jury for his language before replying: "He said to me 'You are not putting no f****** music on in here'.

"I was shocked and tried to speak to him and asked him what his problem was.

"I asked why I couldn't have an input in the music and tried to explain that I had permission from the manageress."

John Kelsey-Fry QC, defending, asked: "Did he explain it?" to which Gerrard replied: "No."

"He turned away from me and wasn't really listening to what I was trying to say and he swore at me a couple of times and we had an argument for four or five seconds and then he walked away."

Minutes later Gerrard, refusing the advice of friends to ignore the incident, returned to McGee and the row continued.

He said: "I couldn't understand why the guy had such a problem with me, why he was so aggressive.

"I was also concerned that if I did leave it I would not have been able to enjoy my night, he may have come over to me.

"I wanted to see why he had such a problem with it, why a total stranger had such a problem with me putting my favourite songs on.

"I asked Marcus what was the problem with the music machine and why he treated me like that.

"Very quickly he came off the bar stool and was in my face right by me."

Kelsey-Fry asked Gerrard: "Why did you deliver a blow to Marcus McGee?"

The defendant replied: "To defend myself.

"We were arguing and I felt that Marcus came towards me and that's why I raised my arms.

"I firmly believed Marcus came towards me to hit me."

Gerrard described raising his left arm to grab the back of McGee's jumper.

He said: "I grabbed the back of his jumper as he moved forward to me. When I had hold of Marcus, I remember swinging my right hand two or three times."

He said the incident took about four or five seconds before he was "pushed and pulled" away from McGee.

Gerrard then watched as a number of his friends brawled with the businessman.

Five of them have admitted affray. They are Ian Gerrard Smith, 19, of Hilary Avenue; John Doran, 29, of Woodlands Road; and Paul McGrattan, 31, of Linden Drive, all Huyton.

Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant, 19, of Enstone Avenue, Litherland, and Ian Dunbavin, 28, of Guildford Road, Southport, also admitted affray.

Another friend, John McGrattan, 34, of Rimmer Avenue, Huyton, admitted threatening behaviour.

Asked how he felt now, Gerrard said: "I am certainly mistaken in thinking he was coming towards me to throw punches at me.

"Now I know, obviously, he had been struck, reacted and thought the strike was by me and he came into me and that's when I reacted.

"I am sorry about the whole incident."

In character references, former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said Gerrard was not the "archetypal footballer".

He added: "Despite the fame and obvious wealth that comes with Steven's abilities and success, he has never forgotten where he came from.

"Steven is a very responsible man and always has been. He is humble and his personality can be described as quiet."

Dalglish said Gerrard "receives a lot of grief for simply trying to be normal".

In a second character statement, Rev Bill Bygroves, the LFC club chaplain, described the footballer as "a kind natured, generous, courteous, community-minded family man with a sincere interest in those less fortunate than himself."

The trial was adjourned to tomorrow when Judge Henry Globe QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, will sum up the case and the jury will be sent out to consider its verdict.