Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton was charged Friday with common assault and affray by Merseyside police and will spend New Year's Eve in jail.

The 25-year-old Barton was one of three people arrested Thursday after an incident in downtown Liverpool around 5:30 a.m. local time.

Newcastle United's Joey Barton will spend New Year's Eve in jail.
(Paul Thomas/Associated Press)

Barton was remanded in custody until Jan. 3 after he appeared in the Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Friday.

"I also have to consider the safety of the public — you lashed out indiscriminately," magistrate Carol Myers said.

Barton attended court wearing the same clothes he wore on Wednesday. He bowed his head to hide from the media and public gallery.

Prosecutor Jayne Hughes said Barton could be seen on closed circuit television cameras confronting a group of people.

"The closed circuit TV clearly shows Mr. Barton involved in altercations with members of the public going about their business," Hughes said.

"He was seen pacing around Church Street and lashing out indiscriminately at people walking around and standing around."

Barton's lawyer, Gwyn Lewis, said Barton was being "goaded" and reacted after a female member of his group was attacked.

"Mr. Barton was involved in an incident of which he is in no way proud," Lewis said. "It is fair to say there was an enormous amount of provocation, although that is not a defence."

Barton will miss Newcastle's games against Chelsea on Saturday, and Manchester City on Jan. 2. He missed Newcastle's 1-0 loss to Wigan on Wednesday with an ankle injury.

The two others — 19-year-old brother Andrew Barton and 27-year-old Nadine Wilson — were released on bail.

Andrew Barton was charged with actual bodily harm and affray — starting a brawl — and Wilson was charged with common assault and affray.

Barton, who made his only England appearance in February, has a history of disciplinary problems.

In October 2006, he was fined for dropping his shorts and exposing his backside to rival fans after an English Premier League game.

In July 2005, Barton was sent home from Manchester City's tour of Thailand and fined six weeks' wages after a bar fight with a teenage Everton fan.

In 2004, Barton started a brawl on the field during a pre-season friendly against Doncaster. He was also fined six weeks' wages for putting a lit cigar into the eye of a young teammate, Jamie Tandy, at Manchester City's Christmas party.