An Injustice for England: Joey Barton Released on Bail

Rarely do I get so incensed by the injustice of our justice system.

A few weeks back, I wrote an article on Watford player Al Bangora, who is due to be deported. Ten days ago, I griped about the Carlos Tevez saga.

Those were both cases of injustice—but they didn't have me anywhere near as mad as I am now.

Today, a great injustice and disservice was done to the people of Great Britain when Joey Barton was released on bail.

Is the judge mad—or simply stupid?

Barton has appeared in court four times in connection with various incidents involving the words "body," "harm," and "assault"—and all four times has escaped a real sentence.

For shame.

Newcastle United deserve some of the reproach too. Instead of condemning Barton's actions and relegating him to the reserves (fines are irrelevant to someone who earns so much money), they've recalled Joey to the squad effective immediately.

Barton is a man who, lest we forget, stabbed a cigarette butt into the eye of a Man City youth player, beat up a teammate, and, by all accounts, was guilty of assault again in a Liverpool McDonald's.

I for one have had enough.

I'm fed up listening to Barton croon to the press that he's changed, that he's a "good lad"—and I'm sick to death of the exceptions made to the laws of this land, simply because Barton is a well-known football player.

Next time (and there will be a next time), don't give him bail. Don't give him the satisfaction of walking away from prison again.

Barton laughs in the face of justice. He laughs in the face of decency. He laughs at a club that will not censor him—and he laughs at us mugs, the football fans, because we continue to watch him play.

What makes me sick to my stomach is how much talent Barton has, and how much he's wasting his life. I sincerely hope that Newcastle United do the decent thing and tear up his contract.

He's a disgrace to their club, a disgrace to the EPL, and a disgrace to England.

Mr. David Swift (the judge in question), do us a favour:

Give Barton two years. And make sure he never touches a football again.

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