England star faces court over ‘illegal’ XL Bully after failing to register dog before deadline

Nottingham Forest FC midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White faces having his XL Bully destroyed after allegedly failing to register his dog before a legal deadline following a spate of dealy incidents nationwide

A member of the England men’s team is set to face a court hearing, after allegedly failing to register an XL Bully dog in his posession before the legal deadline following their ban across the country.

25-year-old Morgan Gibbs-White failed to register his XL Bully, named Harlo, by the required February deadline. The young star last month signed a deal to stay with Nottingham Forest for the next three years amid a £60m bid from Tottenham Hotspur.

The attacking midfielder was initially due to appear in Nottingham Magistrates Court this week in relation to the alleged offence, but the hearing was delayed by a month according to Sun reports.

Some Premier League footballers are understood to have owned the dogs as a form of protection due to the threat of potential home invasions or thefts, though it is not known if that was Harlo’s role.

However, with the breed now outlawed and Harlo being unregistered, the authorities are seeking an order for the dog’s destruction.

Every XL Bully had to be registered with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs following a spate of deadly attacks from these type of dogs, which have been bred for their extreme strength and use as personal protection.

Owning an XL Bully and Failing to do this is typically treated as a criminal offence. However, Gibbs-White is only facing a civilf offence, which he will answer to next month.

It is understood that, as Harlo has not attacked anyone, the England ace’s pooch might yet escape a death sentence.

The attacking midfielder, who has stayed loyal to Nottingham Forest FC, lives in a £700,000 pad in nearby posh East Bridgford, alongside fiancee Britney De Villiers.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said after signing the 25-year-old for another three years: “Morgan is a special player – not just in terms of talent, but character and mentality. He represents what we want this football club to be: he is a winner, talented, ambitious, fearless, and proud.

“There was significant interest from various clubs, but we were determined to build our future with Morgan at the heart of it. I promised our fans we would not only compete, but grow stronger and stronger every season.”

Speaking after signing his new contract, Gibbs-White, who has lived in the city since 2022, said: “I’ve felt at home at Forest from the moment I arrived.

“The support from the fans, my teammates, and everyone around the club has been unbelievable. I believe in what we’re building here – and with the backing of Mr Marinakis and the enormous ambition he has, I want to be part of making something special. I’m excited for what’s to come.”