John Arne Riise Talks About Golf-Club Bust-Up with Craig Bellamy at Liverpool

John Arne Riise has opened up about his famous bust-up with former Liverpool team-mate Craig Bellamy, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The pair hit the headlines in 2007 after Bellamy attacked the Norwegian with a golf club after a team-bonding session during a training camp in the Algarve, Portugal, actions the Welshman later described in his autobiography as "pathetic" and "stupidity of the highest level."

Riise made 339 appearances for the Reds before leaving for AS Roma in 2008 and said the incident, which came before the side's Champions League tie against Barcelona, came from a dispute at a karaoke bar.

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Riise said:

"

We were allowed to go out on a team dinner on the last night and I remember Rafa Benitez told us we could have one beer. Some had more than one....

We had a private room in a karaoke bar. Bellamy kept saying: 'Ginge is going up to sing'. I said: 'No, I’m not singing. I can do a lot of things but singing is not one of them'.

Bellamy wouldn’t leave it. I kept saying: 'No, no, no', but he kept on annoying me. When he grabbed the microphone and said again: 'Ginge, is coming up to sing', I went up to his face and told him clearly I wouldn’t be and to stop it.

I left and went back to my room. I was rooming with Daniel Agger. When I heard the key in the door I thought it was Dan coming back but then the lights went on. Next thing I saw was a golf club smashing me on my backside.

"

The clash inspired Bellamy's celebration during a 2-1 win at the Camp Nou which sparked Liverpool's run to the 2006-07 Champions League final, which they would lose to AC Milan.

"I jumped out of bed and was stood in my underwear while Bellamy was there shouting," Riise continued. "He just said: '9am tomorrow outside my room'. I got there for 8.45am and waited until 9.10am but there was no sign of him."

The 35-year-old left-back says he nearly confronted Bellamy but worried about what impact it might have on his career with Liverpool.

"At breakfast all the boys were laughing and when Bellamy walked in they were clapping," Riise added. "Of course I thought about reacting. But in the end I just left it. Why? I’m not a fighter. Also I was worried if I did react badly it could be the end of my Liverpool career."

[Liverpool Echo]