Ex-Burnley footballer Joey Barton has been arrested after an alleged assault near a golf club in Merseyside.
Joey Barton, who joined the Clarets in 2015, was detained by police following an incident outside Huyton and Prescot Golf Club at 9pm on Sunday.
The 43-year-old is understood to be one of two men arrested after reports of an assault 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 and QPR midfielder, “was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody”.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson 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 s18 wounding.
“They are both currently in custody where they will be questioned by detectives.
“Enquiries are ongoing into the incident.”
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Barton joined on a one-year contract and was named in the Championship Team of the Year that season.
However, his time at the club ended abruptly after being banned for 18 months by the Football Association in relation to betting charges, which was reduced to five months after an appeal.
In total he played 435 games during his career, representing Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle while earning one cap for the Three Lions.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police, or by calling 101 quoting reference 26000188781.
