Ex-footballer Joey Barton and second man charged with assault near golf club

At separate hearing, Barton was told to pay former England footballer Eni Aluko over £300,000 (€346,000) in damages and legal costs after he was sued for libel.

Joey Barton:The High Court heard the case had been stayed, with Barton to pay "substantial" damages and Eni Aluko's legal costs. Picture: Lucy North/PA

Former footballer Joey Barton has been charged with an assault near a golf club.

Merseyside Police said the 43-year-old, from Widnes, is accused of section 18 wounding with intent, along with a second man, Gary O’Grady, 50, from Huyton.

Emergency services were called at around 9pm on Sunday after a man suffered serious injuries to his face and body near Huyton and Prescot Golf Club.

He is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Barton and O’Grady, who appear on England Golf lists as members of the Huyton and Prescot Golf Club, are due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier, at a High Court hearing on Tuesday over a libel claim involving Barton, Gervase de Wilde, representing former England footballer Eni Aluko, said his instructing solicitor had “received a call from a duty solicitor in a police station in Liverpool” shortly before the hearing.

Mr de Wilde told the court on Tuesday that Barton, who has managed Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers, “was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody”.

Barton told to pay Aluko over £300,000

At Tuesday's High Court hearing, Barton was told to pay Aluko over £300,000 (€346,000) in damages and legal costs after he was sued for libel.

Former England footballer and pundit Ms Aluko brought legal action against Barton over two posts he made in 2024 on social media site X.

On Tuesday, the High Court heard the case had been stayed, with Barton to pay "substantial" damages and Ms Aluko's legal costs.

Mr de Wilde, for Ms Aluko, said that in the two X posts, Barton had wrongly claimed she had "cynically sought to exploit her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying", and that she was a hypocrite.

The barrister said that between January and August 2024, Barton published 48 posts relating to Ms Aluko on his X account, adding that he had "carried out a deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification".

Mr de Wilde said one post included an image of Ms Aluko's head superimposed onto serial killer Rosemary West's body.

He continued: "The campaign amounted to an attack on multiple aspects of her life and personality."

"Mr Barton's campaign caused Ms Aluko enormous distress. When she sought to defend herself against Mr Barton's conduct, and that of his followers, he criticised and attacked her for doing so," he added.

Mr de Wilde said Ms Aluko was worried that however she tried to stop the harassment, Barton "would exploit and manipulate it to use against her".

The barrister continued: "Mr Barton has now accepted that his campaign against Ms Aluko amounted to harassment and that he should not have made the publications."

According to a court order, Barton has been told to pay £339,000 — with the first £100,000 plus interest due by March 24.

Barton has also been ordered not to try to contact Ms Aluko except through lawyers, or publish "any express or implied reference" to her unless legally required.

Mr Justice Lavender granted Barton seven days to ask to change the order.

Ms Aluko attended the London court on Tuesday and said after the hearing: "I'm glad it's the end."

Former Manchester City and QPR midfielder Barton has one England cap and also played for Newcastle, Rangers, Burnley, and Marseille.

He hosts the podcast Common Sense With Joey Barton, which is described as an “unfiltered” look at issues in sport, society, politics, and more.