Former footballer Joey Barton has been charged with wounding with intent following a violent incident that left a man seriously injured near a golf club in Merseyside.
The 43-year-old, alongside Gary O’Grady, 50, faces charges connected to an alleged assault that occurred on Sunday night near Huyton and Prescot Golf Club.
According to Merseyside Police, emergency services were called to Fairway in Huyton at around 9pm after reports that a man had been attacked near the golf course.
The victim sustained serious injuries to his face and body and was rushed to hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
A police spokesperson confirmed the charges in an official statement.
“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 in hospital.
“Two men were arrested. Detectives have now charged the following men with Section 18 wounding with intent: Joseph Anthony Barton, 43, of Widnes. Gary O’Grady, 50, of Huyton.
“Both men remain in custody to appear at Wirral Magistrates Court this afternoon, Tuesday 10 March.”
Meanwhile, Barton is also facing financial consequences in a separate legal battle after being ordered by the High Court to pay more than £300,000 in damages and legal costs to former England international Eni Aluko following a libel case.
The court heard that Barton had published a series of controversial posts on social media platform X in 2024, targeting Aluko.
The legal team representing the former footballer and pundit argued that Barton had conducted a sustained online campaign against her.
Barrister Gervase de Wilde told the court that Barton made false claims suggesting Aluko had “cynically sought to exploit her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying” and labelled her a hypocrite.
According to the court proceedings, Barton posted 48 messages about Aluko between January and August 2024, which were described as a “deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification.
“One of the posts reportedly included an image of Aluko’s head superimposed onto the body of serial killer Rosemary West.
“The campaign amounted to an attack on multiple aspects of her life and personality,” Mr de Wilde told the court.
“Mr Barton’s campaign caused Ms Aluko enormous distress. When she sought to defend herself against Mr Barton’s conduct, and that of his followers, he criticised and attacked her for doing so,” he added.
The barrister further explained that Aluko feared any attempt to challenge Barton’s behaviour would simply lead to further harassment.
“Mr Barton has now accepted that his campaign against Ms Aluko amounted to harassment and that he should not have made the publications.”
Under the court order issued by Mr Justice Lavender, Barton must pay £339,000 in damages and legal costs, with an initial £100,000 payment due by March 24.
Following the conclusion of the hearing in London, Aluko expressed relief that the legal battle had come to an end.
“I’m glad it’s the end.”
The latest developments mark another turbulent chapter for the former midfielder, whose post-playing career has often been overshadowed by legal and disciplinary controversies.
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