A leading English newspaper is leading a campaign to have Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton sacked and never allowed to play professional football again after being sentenced to 6 months in prison yesterday.
When he is fit and available, there is no doubting that the Magpies' midfielder Barton is a talented footballer, but it is his off-the-field activities that make him one of the most hated players in English football.
Yesterday, Joey Barton began a six month jail sentence for assault and affray after a night out in Liverpool turned violent.
On the night in question, Barton admitted to drinking 10 pints and five bottles of lager when out with family and friends, and then they went to a McDonalds restaurant where he got into an argument with another group of people.
CCTV footage showed Barton knocking a man and then punching him four or five times. Barton was then seen attacking a 16-year-old whose teeth were broken in the attack.
On the field, he is a tenacious midfielder, who likes to get stuck in, but off the field it seems he can't control his temper. At a Manchester City party, Barton was again in court after stubbing out a cigar into the eye of a youth footballer, so it's not the first time he has been in trouble.
Newcastle United have not yet commented on the action they are likely to take, but surely Barton has had his last chance. In a world where footballers are deemed role models, do we want our kids to behave like this?
The timing of the court case should also be questioned. Sentenced just after the season's finish, Barton will only serve two months if he behaves, so will be back out in time for pre-season training and ready for the new season.
But the question has to be asked: does Barton deserve to carry on in football?
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4 months ago
No, he doesn't. If you or I attacked two people in this manner, we would be sacked immediately, and find it impossible to get work eslewhere. It's an injustice that he'll probably be out in 3 months for "good behaviour" and be back for the start of the season.
We live in a world where we depend on role models, and all this will do is fuel the street violence that we see everyday on the news. FIFA should ban him outright from all footballing manner (evenb charity events, friendlies, the lot) for his disgraceful act.
I am suspicious of his sentence. I believe the judge deliberately gave him this sentence because he'll be out in 3 months. Again, if you or I comitted this awful crime, we'd get two years in prison.
It cannot continue, and I'll be signing that petition straight away.
Good article mate, you beat me to it :D
4 months ago
The fact Lee Hughes came out of prison and was immediately signed by Oldham Athletic after a 4 year sentence makes me think nothing will happen to Barton. The least Newcastle can do is stop his £50k a week wages and give it to the kid who's teeth were broken.
4 months ago
Not to mention the training ground fight with then-City team-mate Ousmane Dabo, who later said "I really don't remember exactly what happened but I've been told by all my team-mates he hit me from behind, a right hook which hit me on the temple and knocked me out".
His chequered history certainly paints a picture. I wouldn't feel comfortable personally in calling for the end of his career, but he clearly has some major problems that need to be sorted out as a matter of urgency.
4 months ago
He needs a strong hand, Ferguson maybe 8 years ago would have been good for him I wish Gazza had gone to Man Utd I really do think his life would have been different had he done so. Ferguson would have given him some Govan shipyard education and love but in a positive way...
Barton has eight years left in football at the top each individual deserves the right through their own hard work to have another chance. Newcastle must dictate a new contract to him and the terms must be harsh but they should not give up on the guy as that is not great for society or the mans life...
I don't know if he'll get strong leadership at Newcastle but one hopes there is someone with the gravitas to to do so...
Alby
from 4 months ago
Exactly Alby, at last someone who speaks sense, and doesnt jump on the stupid bandwagon, thank you.
4 months ago
Stupid bandwagon, because people want an example to be made out of the cigar stubbing head kicking thug its a stupid bandwagon. Don't forget, theres still another incident that he has to appear in court for. He shouldnt be allowed to play professional football again.
from 4 months ago
Legend, mate. Totally agree. Never, ever again. If he does, it's simply condoning what he has done. Why should he be treated any differently to anyone else? I'd never ever be able to work again if I did what he did. But no, he's a footballer, he's special. BOLLOCKS! He ain't special, he's lowlife scum that I wouldn't piss on if he was on fire!
He has to made an example of, teach a lesson to anyone else who thinks money gives them power. People will say he should be forgiven and should play again. No. Ask the victims for their opinion, and their dentists. What a hard job they hard re-arranging their mouth again.
Six months is still too leiniant. I would have given him two years personally. Cantona was baned from football for nine months, and given a community order. For a Kung-Fu kick to some twat who insulted his culture and mother.
I'm backing The Sun's campaign to get him a ban from football, for life hopefully. Someone like Barton doesn't deserve to be "properly looked after".
It amazes me that people can say he should play football again. I wonder what they would say if this crime happened to someone they knew?
Try answering that one.
from 4 months ago
Agree with all that Mike. Leave him rot. If its not the public he's assaulting its him teammates. Like I said in the other article on Joey. Bye Bye Barton, Dont drop the soap.
4 months ago
Jamie,thats extremly harsh, never play again! Are you taking the piss, he made another mistake based on his troubling background. He was never proberly looked after when he had the City incidents.
Everybody jumps on the "throw him out" and "scummer" arguments, if everyone did Barton will continue in this vein, I hope this teaches him and he puts another good seasons into Newcastle.
Leave It Out!!!
4 months ago
Come on now people. Everobody above would want a second chance if they screwed up, so why cant Joey Barton get his? He should serve his 6 months prison term and shouldn't be let out early for money nor good behavior. Once he's done with that, he has paid the price for his mischiefs and can no longer be punished for it.
As Alby said, the boy needs strong leader and someone who can put his head right. Once he gets that, there is no denying the boys ability. NUFC should definetely, without a doubt, stick by him....
4 months ago
Saloman, he had the second chance after the cigar stubbing incident, then he went and attacked his team mate, then he punched someone in the street then kicked a 16 year old and broke teeth. How many chances does he deserve. As Michael said Cantona got a longer ban for being racially abused. Barton's background has nothing to do with it. So what he didnt have the best childhood. Does that give him the excuse to do what he has done
4 months ago
Once Barton has done his time, he is rightly free to do whatever he wants with his life, and if that means carrying on playing football for £50k a week, then so be it.
This argument seems to fall in to two camps: The string em up 'criminals are scum' brigade vs the more rational 'no they are human beings who make mistakes'
I am firmly in the second camp. Playing football again does not condone what Barton has done in any way, that is a very twisted logic. Another twisted logic is the 'footballers are role models' line. Are we such bad parents in the 21st century that if our kids do wrong we blame it on footballers? And who was Barton's role model that made him a potentially violent person? Are we blaming Roy Keane for that? Maybe Norman Hunter or 'chopper' Harris? Kids might copy what players do ON THE PITCH, ie, the diving, the card waving, or the shirt pulling, they take no notice of the other stuff. When I was growing up I loved John Barnes and latterly Robbie Fowler, it didn't make me want to get fat, present tv shows badly or become a property magnate.
Or do we actually, sensibly, blame his upbringing that has seen umpteen family members in prison, a broken home etc etc. Not excuses, Barton has still made choices, and the wrong one on several occasions, but they are reasons for his problems and he needs a mixture of punishment and understanding, not just told 'oi Barton, you're scum'
I have not read it myself, but I assume this campaign has come from the Sun newspaper, that tome of intelligent thought that puts page 3 girls up as role models for young girls, and is more interested in whether Britney is wearing knickers than whether the UK is selling arms to foreign dictatorships.
from 4 months ago
Well said Simon, that was the point I was trying to make...
from 4 months ago
Wish I'd read this before i said what i was gonna say. Nice one Simon!!!
4 months ago
barton never play again?!? of course he should - hes a good player! it wouldnt promote violence to see someone getting locked up for it but then playing again! everyone was eagerly anticipating the return of mike tyson after he raped someone, and you're saying barton should never play a football game again because he hit someone while drunk? he does have discipline problems, but what hes done isnt as bad as roy keane deliberately setting out to break someones leg!
4 months ago
Barney, my point about Barton isnt about second chances. This is his fourth or fifth chance now. He is someone in the media spotlight. Kids copy what footballers do, including diving and feigning injury so all footballers should be aware of their status and live to example.
This incident also happened on Boxing Day. Newcastle were away to Chelsea two days later so what was he doing getting so bladdered with such an important game coming up.
If he cared about his career he would've got himself straight after the Dabo incident but he just doesnt care about anyone else but himself.
Do you think when he gets out he isnt going to get in bother again. Maybe he should go and join Lee Hughes at Oldham!!!
4 months ago
None of this is necessary. He'll be back probably in time for the new season, and by christmas this will all be forgotten.
He's being punished for what he's done, and rightfully so, but why shouldn't be play football ever again? Was John Terry made to stop when he beat seven bells of shit out of a guy in a nightclub? Were Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer made to quit for beating up a guy after a night out. No and No!
His background aside he just acts a fool when he has a drink. Easy option don't drink! It worked out alright for Paul Merson and Tony Adams and things look to be falling into place once again for Adriano!
He'll do his time come out and that'll be that. If he gets involved in any further incidents after jail time then perhaps he does deserve having football being taken away from him! But until then...
4 months ago
One other thing, The whole footballers are role models and kids copy what they do ...etc... Unless your kid is out at 5am fighting Joey Barton how do they really know whats going on. They'll copy what they see on the pitch but all the other nonsense i think not!!!
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