Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, the former Premier League winger now with MK Dons, has denied an allegation that he assaulted his wife during an incident at their Staffordshire home.
The 34-year-old appeared at Cannock magistrates’ court on Friday, arriving on crutches, to face a single charge of assault by beating relating to an alleged attack on his wife, Saira, in June at their property in Shenstone.
He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address before entering a not guilty plea.
Alleged incident at family home
The court heard that police were called to the couple’s luxury home after an argument said to have started over a “disagreement about a phone”. During that row, Saira, the mother of Mendez-Laing’s child, was allegedly struck repeatedly to the head and suffered an arm injury.
Mendez-Laing rejects the allegation and denies any physical attack took place.
Prosecutors confirmed that the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge last month.
District Judge Joseph O’Connor granted the winger conditional bail and listed the case for trial in January next year.
Career in spotlight
Birmingham-born Mendez-Laing came through England’s youth ranks, representing the national team at under-17 level, before building a senior career that took him to the Premier League with Cardiff City.
He scored four goals in 20 top-flight appearances for Cardiff in the 2019/20 season, leaving the Welsh club in September 2020. He has also had spells with Wolves and now plays his club football for MK Dons, who currently sit 19th in League One.
Eligible through his mother and maternal grandmother, Mendez-Laing represents Guatemala at international level.
Away from the pitch, he married Saira in June last year. MK Dons marked the occasion at the time by sharing a wedding photograph of the forward on their official social media channels with a congratulatory message.
The club has since stated it cannot comment on an ongoing court case as one of their senior players prepares to contest the charge in the new year.
