Leeds United team-mates Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer both had histories of violence - but these were kept from the Hull Crown Court jury.
Bowyer narrowly escaped jail after appearing in court for a violent drunken brawl in a McDonald's restaurant, and Woodgate had admitted head-butting a teenager outside a store in his home town of Middlesbrough when he was only 14. Woodgate was also arrested two years ago on suspicion of taking part in the beating and kicking of a student after a late-night confrontation in a pub in Middlesbrough - an attack which bore chilling similarities to the assault on Mr Sarfraz Najeib.
Bowyer - then the nation's most expensive teenage footballer - was caught on video throwing chairs at two Asian staff at the drive-in fast-food outlet in the Isle of Dogs, east London in 1996.
He was 19 at the time and had just been transferred from Charlton Athletic to Leeds for £3.5 million. Thames Magistrates Court heard how Bowyer and two friends arrived at the McDonald's in Trafalgar Way at 6 a.m. and after an argument over the menu rushed in and started throwing chairs. Two members of staff were injured in the attack.
Mr Shamsu Mia suffered a bruised head and cuts and grazes and Mr Mizam Hannan suffered bruising and a cut on his scalp which needed five stitches. The three attackers were "clearly drunk", according to police.
Bowyer admitted affray, was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay £175 to the two victims.
Leeds United also fined Bowyer £4,000. Magistrates told the footballer they had nearly jailed him for his part in he "disgraceful incident".
The court was told of allegations that the three attackers made racist remarks during the assault, but this had not been taken into consideration because one of the members of staff could be seen in the video holding a metal bar, casting doubt over his role in the incident.