Joey Barton denies sending malicious tweets about football pundit Eni Aluko

Barton tweeted after Aluko and Lucy Ward were pundits for ITV for an FA Cup match between Crystal Palace and Everton on January 4, allegedly comparing them to serial killers Fred and Rose West

Joey Barton arrives at the Warrington Magistrates’ Court Centre where he is accused of malicious communications (Danny Lawson/PA)

Ex-footballer Joey Barton has pleaded not guilty to an offence of malicious communications in relation to tweets directed at female pundit Eni Aluko.

Barton, 41, appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday accused of conveying an indecent or offensive message between January 3 and 8 in connection with posts on social media site X that he made about the former women’s footballer.