Ivan Toney will stand trial on 12 June 2028 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, a date that falls squarely in the middle of Euro 2028’s group stage. The England striker appeared at Southwark Crown Court to confirm his not guilty plea to charges relating to an incident at a Soho nightclub on 6 December last year.
Toney is accused of head-butting and punching Saber Da Silva during the encounter. At Westminster Magistrates Court in early October, the prosecutor alleged that the two men “squared up” to one another before Toney “lunged forward and head-butted the complainant, followed by a few punches”. Da Silva sustained injuries to his nose and fingers, the court was told.
Judge Hehir set the trial date for June 2028 – some 20 months away – and apologised for the lengthy delay. “That’s a long way, I’m sorry about that,” the judge said. “As you may know, the crown courts are operating under a great deal of pressure.” Toney, dressed in a black button-up cardigan, white shirt and tie, was informed he was in a queue of defendants awaiting crown court trials.
The timing creates a near-impossible situation for England manager Thomas Tuchel. Euro 2028 will be held in the UK and Ireland, and it appears inconceivable that Tuchel would select a player for the tournament while he faces a criminal trial during the group stage. Toney’s absence from the squad would represent a significant blow to England’s attacking options.
Toney was part of Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he came on as a substitute against Argentina in the semi-final and started the third-place playoff victory against France. He was charged by the Metropolitan Police three weeks after that tournament. He did not feature in Tuchel’s squad for the Nations League fixtures in late September and early October.
Toney, who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli after joining for £40m in 2024, was released on unconditional bail. Judge Hehir stressed it was “very important” and “a matter of common sense” that he maintained regular contact with his solicitors while awaiting trial. He was given a formal warning about the consequences of failing to attend court, which the judge described as a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment.
Toney began his career at Northampton before spells at Newcastle and Peterborough. His breakthrough came at Brentford, where his goals were instrumental in the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 2021. He went on to establish himself as one of the top flight’s leading strikers before his move to Saudi Arabia. He has earned 10 England caps to date.
A spokesperson for Toney said when the charge was announced: “Ivan acknowledges the charge and although he is naturally shocked, he looks forward to being given the opportunity to clear his name in court.”
