The assault trial of England international Ivan Toney will not be heard for another 20 months – potentially ruling him out of Euro 2028.
The trial will begin on June 12, 2028 – three days into the European Championships, which will take placed in the UK and Ireland – and is expected to last three to four days.
Toney, who was in this summer’s World Cup squad, appeared at Southwark Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing on Thursday morning and pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The 30-year-old is accused of headbutting and punching Saber Da Silva at the 100 Wardour Street nightclub in Soho on December 6 2025.
Toney’s defence do not dispute that he caused the injury but claim he acted in self-defence.
Judge Christopher Hehir labelled the case ‘straightforward’ and apologised for the long wait until the trial. He cited the significant backlog in the judicial system, before warning Toney that it is a criminal offence not to turn up for the case.
Toney arrived at court at 9.10am on Thursday, flanked by a six-man entourage, wearing a black button-up cardigan with a white shirt, black tie and grey trousers. He will remain on bail until his trial.
Ivan Toney arrives at Southwark Crown Court for his hearing on Thursday morning
Toney was charged on July 31 after a Metropolitan Police investigation. When the charge was announced, a spokesperson for Toney said: ‘Ivan acknowledges the charge and although he is naturally shocked, he looks forward to being given the opportunity to clear his name in court.’
The England striker initially appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month, where he opted to have his case heard by a jury at the Crown Court.
In October, the court heard that Toney and Da Silva ‘squared up’ before the striker ‘lunged forward and head-butted the complainant, followed by a few punches’.
The 30-year-old is currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia for Al-Ahli and has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances this season. He left England for £40million in 2024, having scored 36 Premier League goals in 83 appearances for Brentford.
Toney started for England in their 6-4 World Cup bronze medal match against France but was left out of the most recent Three Lions squad.
