Play on, Chelsea tells accused stars

Two Chelsea stars accused of a vicious nightclub attack will continue to play first-team football, the club said today.

As the club defied mounting anger over its stars' behaviour, police announced that Jody Morris, 23, as well as team-mate John Terry, will be prosecuted for alleged involvement in the drunken brawl at the Wellington Club in Knightsbridge.

Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson said: "Jody Morris has been fined two weeks' wages for being on licensed premises two days before a game." He indicated that Morris, who is injured, would remain available for selection by coach Claudio Ranieri.

This is the same approach the club had already taken with 21-year-old Terry, a former England Under 21 captain, who played as a substitute in Chelsea's weekend match at Norwich less than 48 hours after his arrest.

The decision to allow both men to continue to play for their clubs is the same approach adopted by Leeds United when Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate were on trial last year. It is likely to earn Chelsea, already seen as one football's most controversial clubs, further widespread criticism. Labour MP Stephen Hepburn said: "Professional players are young lads with a lot of money and fame. We want our young lads to aspire to be good sportsmen. We have got to get to grips with this before our national sport goes into freefall."

Trevor Brooking, the Match of the Day pundit and Sport England chairman, agreed that drinking among players was a problem that can no longer be ignored. "They have got to realise that they have certain standards to meet and if they fail to meet them they run the risk of being named and shamed." The alleged assault took place when Morris was "wetting the head" of his first child in the early hours of Friday.

Morris, Terry and Wimbledon player Des Byrne had been drinking at the Wellington Club near Harrods when other customers are said to have complained about their alleged drunkenness and bad language. The club's management asked the footballers to leave.

It is alleged that the players then became involved in a brawl with the club's bouncers. The confrontation spilled onto the street. Police were called and Terry and Byrne were taken to Belgravia police station to "sleep it off ".

Doorman Trevor Thirlwall, 28, was taken to hospital and needed stitches for cuts to his eye. There are fears that his sight may be permanently damaged.

Morris, from Epsom, Surrey, attended Belgravia police station by appointment last night. He was bailed and will appear before Horseferry magistrates tomorrow.

Morris, also a former England Under 21 international, was once seen as a rising star - a status which earned him wages of £15,000 a week and saw him captain Chelsea.

Chelsea chairman Ken Bates is on holiday. Mr Hutchinson refused to discuss the case beyond the statement he made this morning.

Morris's agent Jonathan Barnett has previously pleaded for the club to be patient with the player.

Today he too declined to comment.

The controversy surrounding the trial of Bowyer and Woodgate over an assault on an Asian student has left football itself in the dock as never before.

Since the trial ended last month there have been numerous incidents of loutishness involving both players and supporters, including two pitch invasions.

Comment: Chelsea's new low
There's a time and place for a drink
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