Al-Ahli Saudi's Ivan Toney Arrested After Alleged Headbutt Incident Over Selfie Request

Just three days before Al-Ahli Saudi's anticipated friendly match against Raja Club Athletic, English striker Ivan Toney found himself embroiled in a new controversy after British police arrested him in London following an alleged assault on a young man inside a pub.

According to reports from British newspaper The Sun, Toney became involved in a sudden altercation with an individual after the victim attempted to take a selfie with him. The newspaper stated that the 29-year-old headbutted the young man in the head after the latter placed his hand on Toney's neck while trying to take the photo without permission.

An eyewitness told the newspaper that he was sitting nearby when Toney walked past a table where a group of young men were seated. One of them recognized the player and tried to approach him for a photo. Despite Toney asking him to back off, the young man refused, leading to a forceful headbutt that resulted in severe nosebleed.

Police arrived at the scene within half an hour, with five officers surrounding the table where Toney was seated. He was then handcuffed and taken into custody after being charged with physical assault.

A source close to the victim confirmed that the young man received treatment for a broken nose and a fractured ring finger. The source added that photos obtained by The Sun show the victim bleeding while receiving first aid.

This incident comes at a time when Toney's name has been linked with a potential return to the English Premier League, specifically with West Ham United, during the upcoming winter transfer window. However, financial considerations could impede the completion of any such deal.