Joey Barton Charged with Wounding Following Incident at Merseyside Golf Club

Former Premier League midfielder and current podcaster Joey Barton has been formally charged with “wounding with intent” (Section 18) following a serious assault over the weekend.

The 43-year-old was apprehended alongside a 50-year-old man, identified as Gary O’Grady, after emergency services were called to an altercation near the Huyton and Prescot Golf Club on Sunday night.

A male victim was discovered at the scene with significant injuries to his face and ribs; he remains in a hospital in serious but stable condition.

The legal proceedings coincided with a high-profile libel hearing in London, which Barton failed to attend due to his detention in Liverpool.

During that hearing, a judge ordered Barton to pay over £339,000 in damages and costs to football pundit Eni Aluko following a “campaign of vilification” on social media.

Barton and his co-accused were remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear at Wirral Magistrates’ Court this afternoon to face the criminal charges.