Newcastle Disgrace: Joey Barton Bags a Bail to Play Arsenal

In what must be the most sensational case ever to ridicule Britain's justice system, it turns out that Joey Barton's lawyers have secured a change to Barton's bail conditions allowing him to play against Arsenal tonight.

Making his incarceration even more of a joke is the discovery that Barton has been training daily at Tyneside, traveling by helicopter.

Of course, with strict restriction to his bail, he has been required to return to base by 7:30 PM.

But now Barton's lawyers have changed even those conditions so that Barton is allowed to live and train in Newcastle while his case proceeds.  He will also be allowed to play in home and away games, providing that he adheres to a new curfew.

But what would have happened if he’d not had access to these lawyers?  If he’d not been a Premier League footballer who’d amassed an overwhelming wealth to support his case?

Once again the British justice system is manipulated and mocked by those who should fall foul to it.   If you are a regular reader of mine, you are already familiar with my views (refer to my previous Joey Barton article).  And still I fail to see why it is that Barton, who faces charges of actual bodily harm, should be rewarded with a return to football barely a few months after the incident in Liverpool's City Centre.

Kevin Keegan (master of the badly timed, poorly developed comment) said today, “Common sense has prevailed.  He's still restricted but he can play with us and play matches.  The judge decided this was the right compromise.”

Really?!  Joey Barton is currently on trial for assault—for the third time in barely three years—and is being allowed to play the game he loves: this is a good compromise?!

What rubbish some people spew when they have to justify their own biases.

Keegan is also convinced that Barton has learned his lesson, saying, “I think we’ll see a new Joey Barton after this.”

I agree with you there, Kev.  I think we'll see a smug Joey Barton sitting with Newcastle United, invincible to justice while he plays the game he loves so much.

Of course, if he really loved the game, he wouldn't do anything to damage his chances of playing in the first place, right?

Final comment: Why must justice be restricted to those who are poor, unknown, and without a multimillion pound football club behind them?