England soccer player Ivan Toney pleads not guilty to assault and trial set for June

LONDON (AP) — England striker Ivan Toney appeared in court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty after being accused of headbutting and punching a man at a nightclub in London last year.

>The 30-year-old Toney, who represented England at the World Cup last summer and plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, will face a trial in June next year over an alleged assault.

>During the five-minute hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London, Toney formally entered a not guilty plea to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a confrontation at a night spot on Wardour St. on Dec. 6 last year, Britain's Press Association news agency reported.

>A provisional trial date was set for the same court on June 12 by Judge Christopher Hehir, who apologized to Toney about the delay.

>“That’s a long way in advance and I’m sorry about that," the judge said. "As you may know, the crown courts are operating under a great deal of pressure. We have got a massive backlog of work for various reasons.”

>Toney was released on unconditional bail, PA news reported.

>He started his career with Northampton and played for Newcastle and Peterborough before signing for Brentford in 2020. He joined Al-Ahli in 2024.

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