Newcastle United's Joey Barton suspended for three matches
Joey Barton's latest moment of madness has seen him banned for Newcastle United's next three Premier League games, putting Newcastle in a precarious position ahead of a crucial clash with Fulham. Without one of their most hard working midfielders, the result
could be in doubt for manager Chris Hughton.
Barton is suspected of punching Morten Gamst Pederson in the chest during his side's 2-1 reverse at home to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night. Highly incriminating images were captured of Joey Barton with his fist on Pedersen's chest.
The incident occurred when the referee Mike Jones had his back turned. So, Barton merely escaped immediate punishment to allow the Football Association to retrospectively use video evidence to combat the matter.
A FA statement read, "Newcastle United FC midfielder Joey Barton has today 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."
Since then, Barton has accepted the charge and his three match suspension applies starting with this weekend's game against Fulham and stretching beyond the international break.
This isn't the first time Joey Barton has gotten into trouble with the authorities as his is a career littered with malicious actions and disorderly conduct. He was given a six month sentence in prison for common assault and affray back in 2008, out of which
he served seventy seven days. After his release, he was given another four months imprisonment sentence after admitting to assault on former teammate Ousmane Dabo, with the incident all but ending his Manchester City career. He was charged for violent conduct
on Dabo by the FA only three days after his release.
Newcastle verdict
Manager Chris Hughton hasn't supported Barton's actions but has said that due to the fact that it is Joey Barton involved; the matter would be amplified making it far worse than it actually is - considering his past history.
He stated, "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."
Hughton is right to assume that much more will be made of it, but the past does come back to bite you, and with a past like Joey Barton’s, the bite can be a little excessive.
Blackburn verdict
Before the FA statement, Blackburn's assistant manager Neil McDonald implied that it was stupid of Barton for getting involved.
"It's obviously foolish and it's the wrong thing to do, but no doubt the powers that be will sort that out," said McDonald.
"The pictures are there, it wasn't provoked and I'm sure they will make the right decision about what to do."
Asked if the punch by Barton was a meaningful or venomous one, McDonald said, "Yes it was, and it was unprovoked as well, which probably makes it worse."
Barton sorry
Since the charge, Barton has moved to mend ties with everybody, by apologising to the fans, the manager and the victimised player and his club alike.
Joey said, "I fully accept that I was in the wrong on this occasion and accept the charge that the FA have brought against me. I would like to apologise to Chris Hughton, my team-mates, our supporters and of course to Morten Gamst Pedersen and Blackburn
Rovers."
"This season, I have really been enjoying my football and although I have been on the receiving end of a few robust challenges, I have, up until now, remained calm in the face of provocation and just carried on with the game. But I hold my hands up, I reacted
badly to the situation on Wednesday night and I deeply regret it."
Even Pedersen has moved quickly to forgive Barton and to state that he holds no grudge against him.
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