New date set for Barton manager assault trial after jury discharged

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton will go on trial again later this year accused of assaulting former Hearts boss Daniel Stendel.

Former England international Mr Barton went on trial on Monday at Sheffield Crown Court charged with assaulting then Barnsley manager Mr Stendel.

But the trial was abandoned on Tuesday after judge Jeremy Richardson QC decided translation issues which arose as Mr Stendel gave evidence over a video link from

Germany were insurmountable. Yesterday, the judge ruled that the trial will begin again on November 26.

Mr Barton, 38, who denies one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, did not attend a brief hearing in Sheffield yesterday.

He is alleged to have pushed Mr Stendel in the tunnel at Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium, causing him to hit his head and injure his face.

The alleged incident took place after a League One match between Barnsley and Fleetwood Town on April 13 2019, which the home team won 4-2.

Mr Barton, who played for teams including Manchester City, Newcastle and Burnley, was Fleetwood manager at the time.

On Tuesday, Judge Richardson said the video link, which had been brought in due to coronavirus travel restrictions, meant parts of Mr Stendel’s evidence were being “lost in translation”.

He discharged the jury, saying the trial would be relisted for when the complainant could travel to Sheffield to appear in court in person.

The judge pointed out that the case had been delayed for a year due to the pandemic.