Five men accused of a brutal attack on footballer Robbie Hughes will be extradited to a Greek court where they face up to ten years in jail if convicted.

The men, who are accused of a serious assault on the Wallington 28-year-old, were extradited by District Judge Caroline Tubbs at Westminster Magistrates Court today (February 16).

Former Croydon Athletic and Sutton United footballer Mr Hughes needed four life-saving operations after the assault, which occurred on on June 17 2008, while on holiday in Malia.

He now suffers from a brain injury and ten-year memory loss after his head was stamped on and he was hit with a bottle outside a nightclub.

Curtis Taylor, 20, Daniel Bell, 21, Sean Branton, 20, all from Horley, Benjamin Herdman, 20, from Worth, Sussex and George Hollands, 22, from Reigate in Surrey will now be extradited to a Greek court.

A sixth man, Joseph Bruckland, 20 from Hookwood, Surrey, was bailed to appear at the same court on March 29 for a separate hearing of the same case.

Defence barrister Alun Jones QC applied for the case to be adjourned arguing there had been considerable delay from the Greek court on providing information on the original summons issued in the summer.

He also raised concerns about how the men would be treated if they were to be extradited, with the potential for them to be detained for up to 18 months before trial begins.

Mr Jones said: “They are likely to be detained for an unspecified period in custody before a decision is taken on whether the will be tried on or not. I don’t need to emphasise the public importance of this case.

“The victim’s family have made a public campaign of this because they have gone to the press and have enlisted the view of Boris Johnson and David Cameron, who have said this is a case of national importance.”

But prosecuting barrister John Jones QC said the Greek court had not delayed matters, but the defence legal team had failed to provide the Greek court with the correct power of attorney documents and they had time to prepare for the hearing.

Summing up, Judge Tubbs said she found the extradition would comply with all extradition rights and the Human Rights Act.

She said: “I am ordering the extradition of each of you to Greece. You now have to surrender yourselves to the court or to the police at the time and place you are directed to do so.”

The men were released on conditional bail. They now have seven days to appeal the decision and if they do not their extradition will be arranged within ten further days.