Bail terms bar Derek Riordan from city centre at night

The 29-year-old footballer appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on breach of the peace and assault charges yesterday.

The ex-Celtic player, of Silverknowes Hill, Edinburgh, pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which centre on an alleged incident said to have taken place at the HMV Picture House venue in Lothian Road.

Prosecutors allege that Riordan became involved in a confrontation with workers there after being asked to leave the entertainment complex on May 7, 2012.

American punk rockers the Alkaline Trio were playing at the Picture House on the night of the supposed incident, but it is not known whether Riordan spent the evening watching the act.

It is alleged that after failing to leave when staff asked him to go, Riordan used threatening language and then struggled violently with them.

The charges state that Riordan also allegedly made “homophobic comments which included comments of a sexually explicit nature” during the incident.

The second charge states that on the same date Riordan allegedly seized employee Michael Moore by the throat, to his injury.

After Riordan entered not guilty pleas, Sheriff Elizabeth Jarvie granted bail to Riordan on the condition that he does not enter Edinburgh city centre between 7pm and 7am.

Sheriff Jarvie also fixed trial for Riordan on the allegations for October 9.

A preparatory hearing will be held at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on September 14.

Riordan is currently without a club after leaving SPL side St Johnstone at the end of last season.

He had signed a short-term deal with the Perth side in March following an unsuccessful spell in the Chinese Super League with Shaanxi Chan-Ba.

With three Scotland caps to his name, Riordan is the third- top goalscorer in the history of the SPL.

After leaving Hibs for Celtic in 2006, he returned to Easter Road for a second stint two years later.