England World Cup star Ivan Toney is facing a legal battle following an alleged altercation at a London nightlife venue last year. The Al-Ahli striker is expected in court next month as he prepares to contest the accusation.
Toney’s World Cup journey had already marked a comeback of sorts, with England coach Thomas Tuchel recalling him after previously questioning his commitment in camp.
4England striker Ivan Toney has been charged with assault over an alleged incident at a nightclub in central London.
The 30-year-old is accused of assault causing actual bodily harm in connection with an incident on December 6, 2025, at a venue on Wardour Street in Soho. Toney was charged on July 31 and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 24, according to Sky News.
A spokesperson for the footballer said Toney “acknowledges the charge” and is “naturally shocked” by the development. “He looks forward to being given the opportunity to clear his name in court,” the representative added.
Toney currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli after leaving Brentford in a reported £40 million ($52.5 million) transfer in August 2024.
Toney Was England’s World Cup Wildcard
4Toney’s trip to the 2026 World Cup almost did not happen, with Thomas Tuchel making the striker one of the more unexpected additions to his 26-man squad.
The Al-Ahli star had only featured in one previous camp under Tuchel, playing two minutes against Senegal in June 2025. The manager later revealed he was unhappy with Toney’s training level and commitment during that spell, prompting the pair to “clear the air” before a recall could be considered.
However, Toney’s performances in Saudi Arabia helped reopen the door. Tuchel also received positive feedback from Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle and believed the forward could offer something different late in games.
The England boss specifically highlighted Toney’s physical presence, penalty-taking ability and effectiveness on set pieces. He also revealed captain Harry Kane enjoyed playing alongside the striker because Toney could draw attention away from him.
Ivan Toney Was Banned Over 232 Betting Breaches
4Toney’s career was disrupted by another major off-field controversy in 2023 when the Football Association handed him an eight-month suspension for violating its betting rules.
The then-Brentford striker was initially charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 covering activity between February 2017 and January 2021. Thirty were later withdrawn, while Toney admitted the remaining 232.
An independent Regulatory Commission imposed the punishment following a personal hearing in May 2023. Along with being barred from all football and football-related activity, Toney was fined £50,000 ($62,000) and warned about his future conduct.
The suspension kept him out until January 16, 2024, although he was allowed to resume training with Brentford during the final four months of the ban.
The Forward Was Diagnosed With A Gambling Addiction
4All in all, Toney’s punishment could have been longer if not for evidence presented about his gambling problem. According to the BBC, psychiatrist Dr. Philip Hopley interviewed the striker twice and diagnosed him with a gambling addiction. An independent regulatory commission described Hopley’s evidence as “well-reasoned and highly persuasive.”
The diagnosis ultimately helped reduce Toney’s proposed 11-month sanction by three months. The commission said he had stopped gambling on football and was “determined to address his gambling problem with therapy.”
Brentford publicly backed its player following the findings, pledging to do “everything possible” to support him. The Professional Footballers’ Association similarly stressed that players dealing with gambling addiction needed proper support and that disciplinary processes should take their well-being into account.
Ivan Toney Called 2022 World Cup Snub His ‘Lowest Point’
Four years before he finally realized his World Cup dream, Toney had endured the agonizing fate of being left out of the squad for the 2022 tournament. Then-England manager Gareth Southgate left the striker out of his 26-man squad on November 10. Just six days later, the first wave of FA betting charges against Toney became public.
Looking back in 2023, Toney questioned that timing and said missing the tournament was the “biggest punishment” for him. “I felt more hurt and down around that time, like somebody’s out to get me to stop me from playing for England,” he told “The Diary of a CEO” podcast, calling it his “lowest point.”
However, Toney remained eligible for England when Southgate made his World Cup selections, and his omission was understood to have been based on sporting reasons.
