Footballer Manuel Da Costa accused of ‘punching woman before groping her in nightclub’

London, Sept 13 : Premier League footballer Manuel Da Costa has been accused of punching a young woman on the face before `groping' and sexually assaulting her at a nightclub.
Ex-West Ham defender went on a trial accused of grabbing the 21-year-old''s crotch in Faces nightclub in Gants Hill, Essex, on October 17, 2010.
According to the Daily Mail, Da Costa admitted hitting the victim, but denied sexually assaulting her.
A police video interview with the victim was played to court in which she said that Da Costa `had a smug look on his face' while assaulting her.
The victim said that as made her way through the club, the Portuguese player reached out and grabbed her between the legs before rubbing her left breast.
"I pushed his face to get him off me. As I have turned around, he has punched the left side of my face," she said.
Da Costa''s friends tried to intervene but he punched her again, she added.
Meanwhile, the court heard that Da Costa made no comment during his police interviews.