Trial date set for former footballer Joey Barton accused of malicious tweets towards pundit Eni Aluko

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Former footballer Joey Barton has been given a trial date over accusations of malicious communications in relation to tweets directed at football pundit Eni Aluko. Barton, 41, pleaded not guilty at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday to a charge of conveying an indecent or offensive message, for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety, between 3 and 8 January, in connection with posts on social media site X that he made about former Chelsea and England forward Ms Aluko. open image in gallery Joey Barton arrives at Liverpool Crown Court to face the charges of sending malicious communications to the football pundit In a follow-up tweet, he compared Ms Aluko to Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot, an earlier court hearing was told. open image in gallery Eni Aluko, who played for Chelsea and England, scored 33 international goals in 102 games before retiring in 2020 and establishing a broadcasting career He granted Barton bail, with a condition not to make any mention of Ms Aluko on any social media.