England international Morgan Gibbs-White will appear before a civil court next month regarding his allegedly unregistered XL Bully dog.
The Nottingham Forest midfielder is accused of missing the mandatory February 2024 deadline to register his pet, named Harlo, with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
The 25-year-old attacking player was originally scheduled to face Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Monday, but proceedings have been postponed by four weeks.
This comes shortly after the footballer received his latest England call-up for World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra and Serbia.
Morgan Gibbs-White will attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court next month
| PAThe case concerns compliance with regulations introduced following the nationwide prohibition of XL Bully dogs.
Court records reveal authorities have submitted an application seeking the destruction of Gibbs-White's pet.
The documentation states: "Application for an order for destruction of a dog, namely a the dog Harlo be destroyed/kept under proper control, which application is attached to this summons."
Despite this application, the animal may avoid being put down since it has not been involved in any attacks.
The footballer faces civil proceedings rather than criminal charges, which would typically apply to unregistered XL Bully ownership.
His residence in East Bridgford places him within the jurisdiction of Nottingham Magistrates' Court, where the matter will be heard.
The XL Bully prohibition came into effect in December 2023 following multiple fatal incidents involving the breed.
These muscular American dogs require exemption certificates, with owners paying £92.40 per animal alongside mandatory insurance and microchipping.
The XL Bully prohibition came into effect in December 2023 following multiple fatal incidents
|PA
Premier League players have reportedly acquired such dogs as protection against potential burglaries and home invasions.
Without proper registration by the February 2024 cut-off date, possession became illegal throughout England and Wales.
Criminal prosecutions can result in six-month prison sentences or financial penalties, with courts potentially ordering the animal's destruction.
However, magistrates may permit retention through the Index of Exempt Dogs if they determine the animal poses no public threat.
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| PAGibbs-White recently extended his Forest commitment with a three-year contract worth over £120,000 weekly, despite Tottenham's £60 million pursuit.
The midfielder joined Forest from Wolves in 2022 for up to £42.5 million and resides in a £700,000 property with fiancée Britney De Villiers.
This marks his second court appearance this year, having received a six-month driving ban in May for six speeding violations on the A52.
Those offences cost him £5,704 in fines and charges.
Many footballers have bought dogs such as XL Bullies amid a string of high-profile burglaries
|PA
Morgan Gibbs-White resides in a £700,000 property with fiancée Britney De Villiers
|Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis praised Gibbs-White as "a winner, talented, ambitious, fearless, and proud" when announcing the contract extension.
The player has earned four England caps since his 2024 debut under Lee Carsley.