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England striker Ivan Toney has effectively been ruled out of participating in Euro 2028 after his trial for an assault charge was scheduled to begin on 12 June 2028.
Court Appearance and Trial Date
Toney appeared at Southwark crown court and stood in the dock to confirm his not guilty plea regarding an allegation of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The footballer is accused of head-butting and punching Saber Da Silva at a Soho nightclub on 6 December of the previous year.
Judge Hehir set the trial date for 20 months in the future and apologized to the defendant for the delay. The judge explained that crown courts are currently operating under a great deal of pressure and that Toney was part of a queue of defendants awaiting trial.
When Toney previously appeared at Westminster magistrates court to enter his plea, prosecutor Tom Heslop stated that Toney and Da Silva exchanged words and squared up to each other before Toney lunged forward, delivered a head-butt, and followed up with a few punches. The complainant allegedly sustained injuries to his nose and fingers. Following his not guilty plea, Toney requested a crown court trial.
Following the Metropolitan police charging announcement, a spokesperson for the player stated that Toney acknowledged the charge, felt naturally shocked, and looked forward to the opportunity to clear his name in court.
Impact on International Career
Toney previously featured in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup, appearing as a substitute against Argentina in the semi-final and starting in the third-place playoff victory against France. The Metropolitan police charged the player three weeks after the tournament concluded, and he was subsequently omitted from Tuchel’s squad for the subsequent Nations League fixtures.
With Euro 2028 scheduled to take place in the UK and Ireland, it is considered inconceivable that the England manager would select a player facing a criminal trial during the group stage of the tournament.
Toney, who has earned 10 England caps, began his professional career at Northampton prior to spells with Newcastle and Peterborough. He achieved prominence at Brentford by scoring goals that secured promotion to the Premier League in 2021 before completing a £40m transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli in 2024.
Bail Conditions and Legal Warning
Toney was released on unconditional bail and instructed that it was vital to maintain regular contact with his legal representatives while waiting for the trial.
Judge Hehir administered a formal legal warning regarding the consequences of failing to attend court, noting that it constitutes a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment. The judge added that the case would likely proceed in his absence if he failed to appear.
