Rio 'urged Morris to kill photographer'

Rio Ferdinand today faces a police probe into claims he was involved in a brawl with a photographer outside a bar.

The England and Manchester United star is said to have urged fellow footballer Jody Morris: "Kill him, stamp on his head."

The fight erupted as Ferdinand and several friends, including Morris, left the Toast bar in Hampstead on Monday night.

Photographer John Gyimah, 36, claims he was kicked and punched by some of the group while Ferdinand watched.

Mr Gyimah was trying to take photographs of the defender as he left the bar. The player's agent dismissed the claims as "nonsense".

Mr Gyimah said: "Rio wasn't having it. Some workmen were near Hampstead Tube as we went past. One had a tin of paint and Rio urged him to hit me with it. As the workman held on to the tin, Rio smacked it so it swung towards me."

Mr Gyimah, who claims the tin broke his camera filter, said he was then knocked to the floor by one of Ferdinand's friends. He alleges that Millwall player Morris joined the fight, which he said was broken up with the help of several of the Tube workers.

One of the workers said he saw Ferdinand throw a bag of CDs at the photographer, while another witness claimed he heard the ex-West Ham and Leeds star urge Morris: "Kill him, stamp on his head."

A spokesman for Ferdinand's agents, SEM, admitted the star "threw a couple of CDs". But he denied that the 26-year-old had urged Morris to kill Mr Gyimah. The spokesman said: "He was hassling him for ages. He has suggested Rio threw a tin of paint at him. Rio has said, 'Where would I get a tin of paint?"

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "A 36-year-old man alleged he was assaulted by up to four men outside a nightclub. He also alleged a camera was stolen from him. It is understood that the group of men left the scene in a car following the incident. There have been no arrests and enquiries are continuing."