Trouble-plagued cricketer Andrew Symonds says he was the victim of an overzealous fan following reports he was involved in a pub fight at a Brisbane hotel at the weekend.
Management of Brisbane's popular Normanby Hotel went into bat for the Queensland all-rounder today as Cricket Australia launched its own investigations into the incident.
"It's been reported I was involved in a pub fight on Sunday night. I would just like to take the opportunity to clarify this report," said Symonds in a statement released through Queensland Cricket on Monday.
"A member of the public acted unreasonably towards me while I was with friends at which time I took steps to remove myself from the situation.
"The member of the public was subsequently removed from the premises as a result of his actions.
"I was sharing some drinks with other players and close friends and did not in any way provoke this situation."
Some of the "friends" were understood to be members of the Australian rugby league team.
Hotel management said security staff removed the patron for "inappropriate behaviour".
Symonds returned to his hotel around 9.30pm which a CA spokesman said was "acceptable".
CA interviewed some of Symonds' teammates who were also drinking at the hotel after Australia had completed a 149-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test at the Gabba earlier on Sunday.
Police were not called and Symonds was not asked to leave the hotel.
Normanby Hotel manager Mark Lassman said it was disappointing that sportsmen could not socialise without being harassed.
"Andrew did nothing wrong and it's disappointing it has been reported in an ambiguous manner."
Symonds said it had been wrongly reported he was receiving treatment for alcohol addiction.
"I am being treated for a stress related illness and I remain committed to dealing with these issues," he said.
Symonds can ill-afford to be embroiled in any more alcohol incidents given his poor track record and his shaky place in the Australian team.
CA have already threaten to shred his lucrative contract if he doesn't stay out of trouble.
"We are getting as much information as possible to establish what did and did not happen," said a CA spokesman.
Symonds recently admitted having drinking problems, and had been kicked out of the Australian one-day team for the 2008 series against Bangladesh because he skipped a meeting to go fishing.
He returned to the Australian team for the first Test against New Zealand.
Symonds was also suspended in 2005 for turning up drunk to a match against Bangladesh in Wales.
