Joey Barton is in custody after being arrested on suspicion of wounding following a fight near a golf club in Liverpool.
Police detained the former England midfielder following the altercation outside the Huyton and Prescot Golf Club at 9pm on Sunday.
Barton, 43, was held in custody along with a 50-year-old man on suspicion of section 18 wounding, a form of grievous bodily harm.
The alleged victim was taken to hospital with facial and rib injuries after the brawl, which is said to have started inside the clubhouse.
Meanwhile, police officers remained at the scene on Tuesday, carrying out fingerprint searches and searching gardens which back onto the course.
One local resident told the Liverpool ECHO that they had seen a man on the floor ‘with blood on him’ before ringing the emergency services.
They added: ‘When my partner went to work yesterday morning they had took the cordon down and they were washing the pavement. That’s why there’s sand all over the pavement from where they washed it’
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A spokesperson for Merseyside police 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.’
Barton made 435 appearances during a 15-year career, including spells at Newcastle United, Manchester City and Rangers. He received one international cap in a 2007 friendly against Spain.
After retiring, Barton moved into management, but has been without a job since leaving Bristol Rovers in October 2023.
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