FOOTBALLER Derek Riordan "disguised" himself to get into an Edinburgh nightclub before hurling homophobic abuse at workers who threw him out, a court heard.
Michael Moore, 31, the nightclub's head of secur-ity, told Edinburgh Sheriff Court the former Scotland international sneaked into the Picture House venue, despite being banned from nightclubs in the capital.
Mr Moore said when he and colleagues asked him to leave, Bristol Rovers' Riordan, who has also played for Celtic and Hibs, refused to go. The witness said he repeatedly called he and his colleagues 'p**fs' and encouraged them to start fighting with him.
The security manager said he and his co-workers refused to respond and managed to get him outside.
As Riordan was ejected from the club on to the city's Lothian Road, the player ran and tried to grab Mr Moore by the neck, the court heard. Riordan was restrained on the ground and allegedly called officers "p**fs" when they arrived.
Mr Moore told the court: "He started going down the homophobic line. He was shouting 'p**fs."
The security manager was giving evidence on the first day of the trial of Riordan, of Edinburgh. Riordan denies assault and a breach of the peace.
