An English football player was detained following a suspected incident at a popular venue in London over the weekend.
Ivan Toney reportedly headbutted a man at 100 Wardour Street, a hotspot located in Soho, early Saturday morning. This occurred after the individual tried to take a selfie with the 29-year-old striker by grabbing him. According to a report from a British tabloid, it seems Toney was understandably irritated by the encounter.
Toney, who now plays for Al Ahly in Saudi Arabia and has represented England seven times, was seen being escorted in handcuffs by police officers. The Metropolitan Police stated that a 29-year-old man was arrested at the location on two counts of assault as well as one additional assault charge.
An eyewitness recounted how Toney was passing by a group of young people when one person attempted to take a picture, placing their hand around his neck. The witness said, “Toney said, ‘Get off of me, get off of me,’ before headbutting the individual.”
The alleged victim sustained an injury, bleeding from the bridge of his nose. The observer speculated that Toney might have felt threatened by the group, considering the substantial fee paid by the Saudi club for his transfer and the expensive jewelry he was wearing at the time. They suggested he might have feared that they were going to attack him for his belongings.
The London Ambulance Service confirmed they were alerted to the incident at 1:57 AM local time and dispatched an ambulance.
There are rumors that Toney may return to England for potential inclusion in the squad for the 2026 World Cup, with clubs like West Ham, Tottenham, and Manchester United rumored to show interest.
This season, Toney has already netted 12 goals in 18 appearances for Al Ahly, bringing his total to 42 goals in 62 games since joining the Saudi side in the summer of 2024. Before his move, he scored 36 goals across 85 matches in the Premier League while playing for Brentford.
