Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton Charged by FA
Newcastle United’s midfielder Joey Barton has been charged with violent conduct after appearing to punch Blackburn Rovers winger Morten Gamst Pedersen. Barton, who has been involved in similar incidents in the past, has to respond
to the accusation until Friday. An admission to the assault may result in a 3-game ban by the FA, which will see the 28-year- old serve a three-match ban.
An official statement by the FA read, “Newcastle United FC midfielder Joey Barton has today [Thursday] been charged with violent conduct by the FA following an incident in his side's fixture with Blackburn Rovers FC on Wednesday,
10 November. Barton has until 6pm on Friday 12 November to reply to the charge and under the FA's fast-track regulations, may admit the charge and accept a standard three-match suspension.”
The event occurred during Newcastle’s 2-1 home defeat to Blackburn on Wednesday night in the English Premier League. The official for the night was Mike Jones, who missed the incident during the match, but viewed video replays
of it after the game.
If deemed guilty, Joey will miss Newcastle’s crucial ties in the Premier League with Fulham FC, Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea FC.
After examining TV footage, Magpies boss Chris Hughton cautioned that Barton's controversial repute would intensify the attention on the case.
Chris said, “I have seen it again and I am aware that he has raised his hands. But I am also very conscious that because it's Joey Barton, there will be far more made of it than any other individual. This is an individual who not
so long ago the television was showing him being kicked from pillar to post around a football ground.”
During his time at his former club Manchester City, Joey was convicted for assailing his teammate Ousmane Dabo, and was consequently sentenced to 4 months in jail.
Blackburn assistant manager, Neil McDonald spoke about the event and termed it as a "full-bloodied punch". Neil commented that Barton’s case was made worse by the fact that the Newcastle player was not at all provoked in committing
the act.
The 28-year-old midfielder has played a notable part in the Newcastle's recent lift in form, which sees Magpies rise to 5th position in the English top-flight. Defeat against Rovers at St. James’ Park ended a run of
three consecutive league wins for the Magpies.
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