England midfielder Steven Gerrard was ruled not guilty in a bar brawl by local court on Friday, Xinhua reported.
The jury at Liverpool Crown Court found the Liverpool captain not guilty of affray after Gerrard and businessman Marcus McGee threw punches at the Lounge Inn bar on December 29.
The jury accepted Gerrard's explanation that he acted in self defense in punching McGee.
Gerrard was in a party with friends in the bar on December 29. Video footage from the bar showed that the Liverpool captain went into dispute with McGee when he tried to change the music and the 34-year-old McGee refused to give up control of the device.
Gerrard admitted throwing three punches but said only one connected. He said he only swung at McGee because he thought he was about to be attacked himself.
Gerrard missed his team's Asia Tour due to the trial.
After leading Liverpool to their fifth Champions League title in 2005, he was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen.
His contract with Liverpool runs through 2013.