Ivan Toney denies Soho nightclub assault

What the report says

England forward Ivan Toney has denied an assault charge linked to an incident at a central London nightclub, according to BBC Sport Football. The 30-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The allegation concerns a man identified in the court report as Saber Da Silva, with the incident said to have taken place at a Soho venue on Wardour Street on 6 December last year.

BBC Sport Football reported that Toney, who confirmed his name and age in court, was accused of headbutting and punching the complainant. District Judge Briony Clarke said the case could be heard in the magistrates’ court, but Toney chose to have the matter dealt with at Crown Court before a judge and jury. He was granted unconditional bail pending a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 29 October.

Toney is a former Brentford striker who now plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli. He has 10 England caps and was part of the squad that reached the Euro 2024 final. More broadly, assault occasioning actual bodily harm is a serious criminal allegation in England and Wales, and choosing a Crown Court trial means the case will move to a higher court for full hearing and jury consideration.