On his X account, the 41-year-old stated that he had been charged over tweets related to broadcaster and multiple league title winner Eniola Aluko.

In a statement, a police spokesperson mentioned that a man from Widnes had been 'summoned to court to face charges of malicious communications'.

They added that following a police investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service had 'authorized the charges for Joseph Barton'.

The spokesperson said the former footballer was due to appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court on 30 July.

Eniola Aluko, who won the Women's Super League title with Chelsea three times, topped Serie A with Juventus, and scored 33 goals for England in 102 international appearances, retired in 2020 and began a broadcasting career.

The 37-year-old was part of ITV's broadcast team for the recent Euros in Germany and regularly commentates on top-level men's and women's matches for several networks in the UK and overseas.

Joseph Barton also played for Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, and Marseille, and appeared once for England.

The former midfielder, originally from Huyton, Merseyside, went on to manage Fleetwood Town in 2018 before taking over at Bristol Rovers in 2021.

Peel House Cemetery offers 'a fitting place to remember people that we have lost', says the deputy mayor.