Ivan Toney, the England striker currently playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, will face trial for assault occasioning actual bodily harm during the period of Euro 2028, effectively ruling him out of the tournament. The trial has been scheduled for 12 June 2028 at Southwark Crown Court, coinciding with the early stages of the European Championship, which is set to be hosted in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Toney appeared in court to enter a formal not guilty plea to charges stemming from an incident on 6 December 2025, in which he is alleged to have head-butted and punched Saber Da Silva at a nightclub in Soho. The initial confrontation reportedly involved an exchange of words followed by physical aggression, resulting in injuries to Da Silva’s nose and fingers. The alleged actions prompted a charge by the Metropolitan Police three weeks after the 2026 World Cup.
During the hearing, Judge Hehir acknowledged the lengthy delay until trial, citing the heavy caseload faced by crown courts. “That’s a long way, I’m sorry about that,” he stated, explaining the 20-month wait for trial. Toney, dressed in a black cardigan, white shirt, and tie, was reminded of the importance of maintaining contact with his solicitors while on unconditional bail and warned about the serious consequences of failing to attend court, including potential imprisonment and the possibility of the case proceeding in his absence.
Toney first appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court earlier in October, where the prosecution detailed the altercation leading to the assault charges. Following his not guilty plea, Toney requested the case be moved to the crown court for trial.
The charges and scheduled trial pose a significant obstacle to Toney’s international career, particularly for tournament selection. He was part of England’s squad at the 2026 World Cup under manager Thomas Tuchel, making an appearance in the semi-final against Argentina and starting in the third-place playoff against France. However, he was not included in England’s subsequent squads for Nations League matches in late 2026 and early 2027, following the announcement of his charges. Given the trial’s timing, it is considered highly unlikely that Tuchel would select Toney for the Euro 2028 squad while he faces ongoing criminal proceedings.
Toney’s football career began at Northampton, followed by stints at Newcastle and Peterborough, with his breakthrough coming at Brentford. His prolific goal-scoring helped Brentford gain promotion to the Premier League in 2021, where he became one of the league’s prominent strikers. In 2024, he transferred to Al-Ahli for a reported £40 million.
A spokesperson for Toney responded to the charges at the time by stating that he acknowledged the charge, expressed shock, and looked forward to the opportunity to clear his name in court.