Former footballer Joey Barton has been arrested after an alleged assault near a golf club. The 43-year-old is understood to be one of two men detained following reports of an assault in Huyton, Merseyside, on Sunday.
At a High Court hearing on Tuesday over a libel claim involving Barton, Gervase de Wilde, representing ex-England footballer Eni Aluko, said his instructing solicitor had «received a call from a duty solicitor in a police station in Liverpool» shortly before the hearing. Mr de Wilde told the court that Barton, a former Manchester City midfielder and Bristol Rovers manager, «was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody».
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: «We can confirm that two people have been arrested following reports of an assault in Huyton on Sunday 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 injuries to his face and ribs. A 50-year-old man and a 43-year-old man have both been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 wounding.»
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