Newcastle striker Nile Ranger has been convicted of assault by beating against two police officers. But he was cleared of two counts of actual bodily harm on two members of the public.
The 21 year old was on a night out in Newcastle city centre with his cousin on August 27 last year when he was approached by a group of white males and a confrontation ensued which resulted in Ranger punching two of them.
But Newcastle Crown Court heard that the footballer had been the victim of racial taunts and that his actions were in self-defence.
He fled the scene but, when police tried to detain him, he twice pushed them away, causing minor injuries.
He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and told to pay £750 to each officer.
