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.
29 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Simon Williams about 1 year ago
Don't be so silly. I'm no Barton fan, but ever heard of innocent until proven guilty? Barton will face trial for both this incident and the Ousmane Dabo incident, if found guilty of either THEN he should be behind bars.
He is not a danger to the public so there is no reason for him to remain in custody, especially as his bail is conditional.
You get incensed by 'injustice', I get incensed by idiotic articles that do nothing other than add to the increasing amount of vitriol spoken about footballers. If he is guilty, and gets off, then it will be an injustice (not that we will ever know), until then, he is just another man out of bail pending trial and is rightly given the same status as anyone else.
You have made yourself judge, jury and executioner on the basis of hearsay and press speculation, I ask, where is the justice in that?
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Mark Syrett about 1 year ago
i must agree with this comment. Barton is being treated unfairly by the press, nd articles like this wont help. They ruined gazza now they want fresh blood.
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Simon Martin about 1 year ago
Mark, are you joking? You would be the first one to complain if Barton had tackled an Arsenal player like he did at Man City a few weeks ago. The press, on this occasion, have been resoundly reserved, whereas I would prefer to get my anger at Barton off my chest.
Gazza ruined his own career, and Barton is doing the same. GBH has no place in society, be it on a football pitch, or in a McDonalds, and if Barton is going down because he broke the law, then what on earth is the problem with reporting it?
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Brad Simkulet about 1 year ago
Just because I think civility is still important, here's Simon's point edited to remove the unnecessary insults to the Simon who wrote this article:
I'm no Barton fan, but [I believe that people are] innocent until proven guilty. Barton will face trial for both this incident and the Ousmane Dabo incident, if found guilty of either THEN he should be behind bars.
He is not a danger to the public so there is no reason for him to remain in custody, especially as his bail is conditional.
I get incensed by articles that do nothing other than add to the increasing amount of vitriol spoken about footballers. If he is guilty, and gets off, then it will be an injustice (not that we will ever know), until then, he is just another man out on bail pending trial and is rightly given the same status as anyone else.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
There isn't any and you can cry it off Simon. Lock him up, the stupid lttle chav.
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Sheikh Zakaria about 1 year ago
He's a footballer and hooligan at the same time...if he were at the Wembley for the England-Croatia game then you wud have imagined the havoc he wud have created alone.
He's a shame to football..absolute disgrace to English Football..
Yes, he does play some nice football. But check this connection out, Ricky Hatton are GOOD friends wid both Joey Barton and Wayne Rooney. Rooney is far more aggressive than Barton but he has never embroiled himself into any horrible public incidences
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Simon Martin about 1 year ago
(aside from the granny incident which I think coleen is hoping is a one-off incident. But you are right, he's never gone out and beaten anyone up...*whistles, yes innocent until proven guilty*)
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Simon Williams about 1 year ago
What has Ricky Hatton got to do with anything?
There really is a plethora of idiots on these pages. Go and bury your heads in the Daily Mail and the Sun and leave real opinions to people who can actually think up their own.
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Simon Martin about 1 year ago
I take offense at that: firstly because I'm a Times reader and secondly because libertarians like yourself go read the Guardian and think only your opinion counts.
I do agree, Ricky Hatton has nothing to do with this, so why mention him? But the way in which you conduct yourself, sir, leaves a lot to be desired.
Oh, and to your earlier point, are you joking? A roomful of witnesses at the cigarette butt incident, a training ground full of witnesses at the Man city brawl, and funnily enough a McDonalds full of yet more witnesses to Barton's conduct in these cases.
Presumed innocent until proven guilty, yes of course, but there is a limit (and one could say this is a fore-gone conclusion because of the witness factor), as is there a limit to my patience with idiots who spend their time insulting other people due to a lack of cranial capacity on both sides.
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Sheikh Zakaria about 1 year ago
It was worth mentioning in a sense that Ricky is as lethal to his counterparts as Barton are to his victims. However, that's not the point.
I dont need to bury my head like u, coz i keep up to date with the latest news in theFootballing world, and Sky has lot to inform me. not to mention ur Daily Mail, Daily Star, Telegraph, Sun etc.
So, u r not the only bloke in this page who reads papers..
and i m aware that we dont have nay negativity between ourselves so why r u just sparking a fire by making some unhealthy comments?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
What incenses me is mistaken idiots who constantly quote "innocent until proven guilty".
There is no such thing in English law.
There is however, the concept that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Which is very different indeed.
So please please please, get this right and you may begin to understand a little more about what is going on.
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Simon Martin about 1 year ago
I agree with you entirely, although here that may be wasting everyones breath because it seems to be an open and shut case with regards to Barton's conduct.
What is driving me nuts is everyone who seems to think this is a witchhunt. Are they kidding me? Of course its a witchhunt. Barton has acted criminally, on several occasions, and should be punished to the full extent of the law. What is there to treat Barton unfairly with?
Nothing, is the answer. Here's hoping he gets his comeuppance.
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Matt S about 1 year ago
The guy has been involved in so much trouble I hope that there is some form of punishment at the end of all this.
I don’t even rate him that highly as a footballer and think it showed how desperate Newcastle were when they signed him. I bet Man City were laughing when they managed to get almost £7m for him!
Even if Newcastle released him I’m sad to say that a number of clubs would still be interested in taking him – with West Ham probably at the front of the queue!
I just hope he never plays for England again (another one of McClaren's mistakes). I certainly wouldn't want to cheer this type of person on.
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Matt S about 1 year ago
Actually that last line gave me a thought/question: Would anyone want someone like this actually playing for your club? I just wouldn't want to cheer the guy on from what I've heard him do, not the type of guy you want to do well.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I have no time for Barton and the legal system can at times make you feel sick with some of the sentences but if everyone who was charged with these offenses was kept in prison until their trial then even more prisoners would have to be released to make room!
Maybe Newcastle could get Bowyer back on loan to fill the void left by him ;-)
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Simon Williams about 1 year ago
Well is Barton being 'presumed innocent' here? it doesn't look like it to me, it looks like he is being presumed guilty.
As I said, I am no fan of his and I wouldn't want him playing for my club because he appears to be unable to control himself on the pitch. That is totally different to his behaviour off of it.
Those who are quoting all of these witnesses, how do know such witnesses exist? if they have appeared in the press then they have just made his case very easy, he will not face trial because his case will be prejudiced by press intrusion.
If they have not appeared in the press then how do you know they exist? Just because the press say so? And they would have no agenda at all here I presume?
I saw Barton being interviewed on BBC recently, it was clear that he was a very troubled individual, from a very troubled background. The fact that he has managed to reach the level he has at all is testament to some quality in his character, given his background, sadly it seems that he is incapable of making the most of the opportunities that his talent and work-rate have afforded him.
Again, if he found guilty of any crime, then he should be rightly punished, until then, he should not be subjected to any more prejudice then anyone else. Articles like this serve no purpose, are not based on fact, and are merely an individuals rant at what he perceives as injustice.
That doesn't sound like journalism to me, I thought this was a place where people can write serious articles to try and prove themselves as adept as trained journalists on sports reporting, not a chat room equivalent of 606 for people to just have a moan at what they don't like in the world.
And for the record, I read the Independent not the Guardian, but I wouldn't pigeon-hole myself to any strict world view.
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Simon Martin about 1 year ago
How troubled can one individual be?
He has the world at his feet - a premiership footballer! And what has he done? He has spent half his life insisting he is a good boy really, that he doesn't take after his brother in the criminal stakes and that he's a misunderstood individual.
I take serious exception to your "not based in fact" comments, which is frankly libelous considering it IS factual.
Has Barton been released on bail? Yes!
Has Barton been charged three times for assault? Again, Yes!
Has Joey Barton been guilty of some dubious play both on and off the pitch? Again, Yes!
There are no instances in this article where I have made up any event regarding Joey Barton, and your attitude of "I don't agree, therefore you are writing rubbish" - and with regards to the witnesses, no we can't name them, yes there are witnesses, all reported on at the times of each incident, and here - and the reason we can't name them is due to a little thing called the witness protection act. Heard of it? You might have done. It applys to pretty much every court case in the country.
Don't come on here and accuse us of not checking the facts, when certain rules apply that mean we can't provide all of the information - and that includes names of witnesses.
This is NOT 606, quite the contrary, But you risk turning it into a facsimilie of 606 by coming on here and insulting everyone with defammatory results.
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Simon Williams about 1 year ago
The reason I wrote 'not based on fact' is because your article encourages speculation as to what any witnesses may have seen. It may be a fact that there were witnesses, but we do not know what any of those witnesses actually witnessed.
Your article clearly presumes that Barton is guilty in this case, and in all others. You seem to be au fait with UK law, so you will be aware that here we presume innocence, not guilt.
Banding about words like 'defammation' and 'libelous' is in my opinion a little childish as I have been on ocassion I am happy to admit. You have aired your views, I have disagreed, as is my right.
I don't seek to wind anyone up or target any individuals, I merely respond to articles as I see fit.
Sometimes I may be a little quick to react, but as you wrote the article yourself in anger, I am sure you can see why passion can sometimes get the better of all of us.
I still disagree that your article is necessary, and do not think it adds anything to the Barton 'situation', guilty or not, his career is already effectively ruined, so further condemnation of him offers nothing new.
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Mike Prescott about 1 year ago
I can’t stand Joey Barton, both as a person or as footballer. But I’m just going to try and straighten up some facts here.
-Barton’s latest incident actually happened in the street outside the McDonald's, after two groups of people were asked to leave the fast food restaurant by the manager (seems a pointless observation until you get to the next point).
-One of the “witnesses” a lot of people have mentioned, is actually the police CCTV. This is known because of a police statement in the local press.
This is also why the two people with Barton that night, were released on police bail. After viewing the CCTV the police didn’t perceive them to be a threat.
But because of his action the police were unwilling to bail Barton, so he had to wait for bail to be set by the judge.
I don’t want to get in to the rumours that are doing the rounds in Liverpool, or to try defend Barton (far from it), but it’s safe to say this all happened because of the attention he received because of who he is.
All footballers get stick. It’s not right, but it comes with the job. Barton’s problem is he can’t be the big man and walk away from it.
And that’s got to be down to a personality fault.
Why did he stick a cigarette in to a young players eye? Because he couldn’t take a joke that was made at his expense.
Why did he beat up a team-mate on the training pitch? Because he couldn’t take criticism after a poor performance.
Why did he assault a young supporter while on tour to the Far East? Because like this latest incident, he couldn’t walk away from a smart-arse comment.
I don’t know if Barton has done what he has been accused of outside McDonald’s, but if a jury do find him guilty then yes, he should go to prison. If only to prove that it doesn’t matter who you are or how much money you have, if you break the law there will be consequences.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Barton was actually refused bail by a magistrates court, NOT the police, so his extremely well payed and no doubt very well connected lawyer too the case to a judge who conditionally granted him bail. Wouldn't happen for me and that says it all!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
u need to shut up!!! bartons a great footballer n let im play on! people no exactly how to wind im up and they no he will react people just try to do it for the publicity! if evry1 says he's a disgrace to football then what all the players being accused of rape ? rape is worse than a punch!
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Simon Martin about 1 year ago
The player in question of Manchester United has been cleared completely, as the girl in question has made these accusations before, and is being investigated.
I think it depends on the circumstances entirely anyway - yes, rape is, in my eyes, the worse crime. But Barton is guilty of all of the above (bar this last incident, dependent on his trial), and has not reneged his ways. He does bring shame on football through continuing his actions.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I am not a big fan of Barton however i feel i should just say that most of the comments about his latest incident in Liverpool are a bit out of order, No one has cared to mention the fact the a group of hooded youths have goaded then attacked a girl within his party..followed them with mobile phone whilst launching objects at them. You are all to quick to judge him as you read papers like the Sun Newspaper who print Rubbish at the best of times.. have a word with yourselves and get the facts right before you destroy another talented player for wearing is heart on his sleeve and standing up for himself. He might have done some things in the past as a young man but haven't we all. He needs to learn some quick lessons and i agree with what Mike who says about it takes a bigger man to walk away however sometimes you've got to stick up for what you believe in, if that means giving some spineless scally hoody a slap then who are we to argue.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Simon,
i would like to say are you on a one man crewsade with your friend sheikh because they way that you two are talking you would think his name was Mr Binlardin they way you are carrying on... have a word with yourselves.. the tackle wasn't even a tackle it was a jump then a push. it's seams to me as you two have never kicked a ball in your lives so my advise is to go back to playing chess or what ever you get up to.
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Simon Martin about 1 year ago
Boy am I laughing at you! I was forced out of the game through an ankle injury that will let me do my fencing, swimming, riding and running, but won't give me the dexterity to kick a football properly anymore.
I played for fifteen years, for various local sunday teams, and my school, and I was a good player. Just an unfortunate tackle put paid to that.
My father is an ex-professional footballer, and an ex-football coach (striker coach, note that, it'll come in handy later), I currently have one stage FA coaching badge, doing another now, and because I wanted to help out with this referee crisis, four FA referee stages as well.
I'd love to know what article you think you are writing on - sorry, tackle? The one with the foot outstretched, studs up? Deary me, you must be a Newcastle fan, blind to your obvious inadequicies and blind to your players flaws.
Do us a favour. Wake up and smell the the Mcdonalds. Goodbye Barton - goodbye Newcastle United.
And I for one, won't shed a single tear.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Just to let you know i am not a Newcastle Fan However i would like to mention to you i have been playing football for over 20 years had two operations on each ankle( which didn't keep me out the game because i love the game and would only stop when i wanted to) i seen and been on the end of Horror tackles and in my opinion that was not a horror tackle ( i have seen under 11's do worse) if you had played in the Sunday league's you would know that it is a mans game and there's no room for Divers and Moaners.. thats my opinion, you may not like it but thats life. Also i see that you have not made any comment about the Scally Huddy's above, would love to hear your view's
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Just to let you know i am not a Newcastle Fan However i would like to mention to you i have been playing football for over 20 years had two operations on each ankle( which didn't keep me out the game because i love the game and would only stop when i wanted to) i seen and been on the end of Horror tackles and in my opinion that was not a horror tackle ( i have seen under 11's do worse) if you had played in the Sunday league's you would know that it is a mans game and there's no room for Divers and Moaners.. thats my opinion, you may not like it but thats life. Also i see that you have not made any comment about the Scally Huddy's above, would love to hear your view's
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Andrew Gowland about 1 year ago
When players get out on bail the clubs should not, as a case of morality, continue to play them and these players like Joey Barton who continue to pick up 50k and upwards a week. It's an absolute disgrace. Joey Barton is just a complete and utter cunt in all repects anyway and needs some respect beating in to him.
He's scared shitless about going to prison because of his fear of being associated with his brother, deep down he probably has the capacity to be the "good lad" that he claims to be but he must learn to take the stick from fans, it comes with being in the public eye constantly. If he can't take that then he shouldn't be playing football quite frankly
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Salaar Arshad Shamsi about 1 year ago
Recently had an interview with Joey..behind the cameras..he told me of taking anger management courses..a rehab course..he's interacting with charities..I dont know if he's hiding the reality behind Simon but I think he's actually changed..
Well only time will tell.
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