David Nugent and Marc Wilson brawl at Portsmouth training camp

Crisis club Portsmouth sunk to a new low after two of their players fought each other in a brutal hotel brawl during their trip to Portugal.

Striker David Nugent was allegedly hit across the legs with a lump of wood by defender Marc Wilson during the fight. The amazing bust-up took place in a corridor outside their rooms and were witnessed by team-mates who were forced to step in to prevent the situation escalating even further.

The incident took place at the Villa hotel in Guimares, where the Pompey squad and staff had been staying, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Hours earlier the team, shorn of theirtop stars who have been sold, were crushed 4-0 by Benfica in a pre-season friendly.

It is believed both Nugent and Wilson had been drinking before the fight broke out.

Onlookers describe Republic of Ireland defender Wilson, 21, as being "out of control" as they battled to calm him down.

Nugent, who was already suffering from a toe injury, is not thought to have been seriously hurt in the assault.

The former Preston forward had played in one half of Pompey's first game of the tour, against Vitoria FC last week. But he took no part in the match against Benfica.

Both Nugent and Wilson were immediately sent home on Sunday morning by boss Paul Hart, who launched an internal investigation into exactly how the fight started.

Disciplinarian Hart, who flew home to England with the rest of the squad yesterday, has fined the pair a fortnight's wages each.

A Portsmouth spokesman said last night: "David Nugent and Marc Wilson have both been disciplined for a breach of club discipline while on the club's recent trip to Portugal.

"The matter has been dealt with internally and there will be no further comment from the club."

The shameful scenes are the latest setback for the club tipped by many for relegation after selling England stars Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch.

There are also doubts that proposed owner Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim has actually completed his takeover at Fratton Park.