England striker Ivan Toney has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The footballer appeared at Southwark Crown Court and formally entered his plea, with a provisional trial date set for June 2028.
The alleged incident took place at a nightclub in central London last year. Toney was released on unconditional bail after the hearing. The judge overseeing the case apologised for the long delay before the trial, citing significant pressure on the court system.
Toney, who now plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, has been capped by England. He was part of the national squad that reached the semi-finals of a recent World Cup, featuring in matches against Argentina and France. He was not chosen for the latest England squad.
His absence comes as the national team is performing well, having won its last three games. The team's form in its last four matches is three wins and one defeat, with the most recent result a 3-0 victory over Czechia on Tuesday 6 October. In that match, the goals came from an own goal and a brace from Harry Kane. This followed a 7-0 away win against Croatia on Saturday 3 October, a game in which Jude Bellingham, the team's top scorer this season with seven goals, was among the scorers. The team's next fixture is a home match against Croatia on Thursday 12 November, who are currently second in the table.
Toney's club career started at Northampton Town, with subsequent periods at Newcastle United and Peterborough United. He later played for Brentford before transferring to Al-Ahli. A statement released on his behalf said he acknowledges the charge and looks forward to clearing his name in court. The trial is scheduled for the summer of 2028.
This story first appeared at Yahoo Sports
