ENGLAND goalie Jordan Pickford is at the centre of a police probe into a pub ruck after revellers mocked that he had short “T-Rex arms”.
His pals were furious and a mass brawl broke out in East Boldon, South Tyneside.
One lad was left with a broken nose and another with a smashed phone.
Police rushed to the scene but Pickford, 27, and his friends had already left. Officers are investigating and seeking witnesses.
There is no suggestion that £30million ace Pickford assaulted anyone.
The ruck happened at around 9pm on Sunday at the Beggar’s Bridge pub, in East Boldon, South Tyneside.
A witness said: “He was getting goaded, like they do. All I heard was ‘little arms’ and then that’s it. It kicked off. It happened as soon as they walked in. They hadn’t even had time to get a drink. One lad suffered a broken nose.
“Pickford wasn’t hurt at all. He was out of the door as soon as it kicked off. Pickford’s group left by minibus before the police came.”
The witness added that a lad who was filming the incident had his phone smashed by one of the star’s group.
The brawl came just days after a Newcastle United fan wore a Tyrannosaurus Rex costume at a match to poke fun at Pickford — who used to play for rivals Sunderland.
Everton lost the away game at Newcastle 3-1 on Tuesday of last week.
When Pickford headed to the Leazes End at St James’ Park he appeared to smile as he spotted the dressed-up fan.
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Supporters of other teams, including Merseyside rivals Liverpool, also poke fun at him and chant a song which includes the lyrics: “He couldn’t touch the cross bar, he’s only got little arms.”
Pickford became a national hero in Russia in 2018 when he saved a crucial spot kick against Colombia to help England win a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time.
But a year later he was involved in a pub fracas after watching Sunderland on television lose the EFL Trophy Final to Portsmouth on penalties.
Video footage emerged which appeared to show him throw two punches after the all-day binge.
An off-duty bouncer was injured but he did not press charges and Pickford was not arrested.
The star, who grew up in Washington, Tyne and Wear, lives with childhood sweetheart Megan Davison, 25, and their two-year-old son Arlo in Cheshire.
No arrests have been made following Sunday’s incident.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “We received a report of a disturbance at the Beggar’s Bridge pub.
“It was reported that a fight broke out between two groups of males inside the premises. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.”
Everton declined to comment.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
