Joey Barton, the former Premier League footballer, has been charged in connection with an alleged attack on another man.
The former England international, 43, was arrested on Sunday evening after an incident, close to the Huyton and Prescot Golf Club, in which a man sustained injuries to his face and ribs.
Barton was arrested alongside a 50-year-old man, Gary O’Grady, on suspicion of section 18 wounding, and held for questioning.
On Tuesday Merseyside Police said both men had been charged and were due to appear at Wirral Magistrates Court later that day.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “We can confirm that two men have been charged following an assault in Huyton on Sunday night, 8 March.
“At around 9pm, emergency services were called to Fairway to reports of a man having been assaulted near to Huyton and Prescot Golf Club.
“The victim was taken to hospital for assessment of serious injuries to his face and body. He is in a serious but stable condition.”
Door-to-door enquiries
The Liverpool Echo had first reported on the incident on Monday night, without naming Barton. According to the Echo, local residents reported seeing a large police presence in the area, with part of Fairway closed off.
Police have been conducting door-to-door enquiries to gather witness accounts and doorbell footage. One police car remained in the area at 6am this morning.
Last December, Barton was given a suspended sentence for social media posts about broadcaster Jeremy Vine and TV football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko. Barton had been found guilty by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court of sending grossly offensive electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety.
Barton, originally of Huyton, Merseyside, was given six months in custody, suspended for 18 months. The former Manchester City and Newcastle player was also ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work in the community and pay more than £20,000 in costs.
At a High Court hearing on Tuesday about a libel claim involving Barton, Gervase de Wilde, representing Aluko, the former England women’s footballer, 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 that Barton “was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody”.
Barton has 2.7m followers on X and previously managed Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers.