Ex-footballer Joey Barton has denied making malicious communications in relation to social media posts directed at pundit Eni Aluko.
Barton, 41, appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court docket accused of conveying an indecent or offensive message between 3 and eight January in regards to the former ladies’s footballer.
The ex-Manchester Metropolis, Burnley and Rangers midfielder spoke to substantiate his title, tackle and date of delivery to deputy senior district decide Tan Ikram, and entered a not responsible plea.
He was instructed he should seem at Liverpool Crown Court docket on 27 August.
Choose Ikram stated: “I’m granting you conditional bail with one situation that you’ll not make any point out of Eni Aluko on any social media, and that’s both straight or not directly, or by inference.
“I’m imposing that situation to make sure no additional offences are created.”
Barton nodded on the decide as he left the courtroom room along with his defence solicitor Richard Derby.
Aluko, who performed for Chelsea and England, scored 33 worldwide objectives in 102 video games earlier than retiring in 2020 and establishing a broadcasting profession.
Barton’s enjoying profession started in 2002 at Manchester Metropolis and resulted in 2017 at Burnley.
He additionally performed for Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and Marseille and appeared as soon as for England.
Initially from Huyton, Merseyside, he went on to handle Fleetwood City in 2018 earlier than taking up at Bristol Rovers in 2021.
He later left Rovers in 2023 and has not since taken up a managerial place.