West Ham's Ferdinand charged with nightclub assault

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est Ham United defender Anton Ferdinand was charged with assault and violent disorder on Wednesday following an incident outside a nightclub, police said. The 21-year-old English Premiership star, younger brother of Manchester United and England centre-half Rio Ferdinand, was involved in an alleged fight outside the east London club last month. A spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police said Wednesday: "Anton Ferdinand, 21, a professional footballer, of Mottingham, southeast London, appears on bail at Redbridge Magistrates Court on Friday charged with ABH (actual bodily harm) and violent disorder following an incident outside Faces nightclub on Cranbrook Road, Ilford, on October 2." Ferdinand's representatives released a statement confirming the England under-21 international had been charged. "Anton looks forward to having the opportunity to explain in court the incident and nature of his actions on the night in question," it read. "He maintains his innocence and believes his actions were justified and that because of this he believes he has not done anything wrong." Struggling West Ham, 16th in the Premiership table, declined to comment. A product of the Hammers' celebrated youth academy, Ferdinand made his debut in August 2003 and has played 113 times for the east London club, scoring three goals.