England striker and Al-Ahli forward Ivan Toney has appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London, formally entering a not guilty plea to charges stemming from an alleged altercation at a central London nightclub late last year. The 30-year-old player is facing serious scrutiny over purported physical confrontations.

According to reports, the incident allegedly took place on December 6 last year on Wardour Street, where Toney supposedly headbutted and punched a man. During the brief five-minute hearing, the professional athlete rejected the allegations of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Judge Christopher Hehir scheduled a provisional trial date for June 12 next year, while offering an apology to the defendant regarding the extended timeframe. The judge claimed that the British crown courts are supposedly operating under severe pressure and a massive backlog of unfinished legal work.

Toney was subsequently released on unconditional bail as legal proceedings await their next phase. The player, who previously featured for clubs including Brentford and Newcastle United, transitioned to the Saudi Pro League in recent years.

Source: www.aljazeera.com