Joseph Anthony "Joey" Barton (born 2 September 1982) is an
EnglishEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United Football Club is an English football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, they play in the Football League Championship. And are renowned for having a very good fan base...
.
Barton was born in
HuytonHuyton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, in Merseyside, England. It has close associations with its neighbour, Roby, having both formerly been part of the Huyton with Roby Urban District...
,
MerseysideMerseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. Taking its name from the River Mersey, Merseyside came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974, after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, and the county consists of five metropolitan...
and raised in a working-class area. He began his football career with
Manchester CityManchester City Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Manchester. The team is currently a member of the Premier League.The first known competitive fixture was played in November 1880, when the side was known as St...
in 2002 after working his way through their youth system. His appearances in the senior side gradually increased over the following five years and he made more than 150 for the club. He earned his first
capA cap is an appearance for a select team, such as a school, county or international team in sports. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of Association Football...
for the
England national teamThe English national football team represents England in international association football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football in England...
in February 2007, despite his criticism of some of the team's players. He joined his current club Newcastle United for a fee of £5.8 million in July 2007. The contract negotiations became protracted after
Manchester CityManchester City Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Manchester. The team is currently a member of the Premier League.The first known competitive fixture was played in November 1880, when the side was known as St...
refused to pay Barton a fee of £300,000 to which he was reported to be entitled if he left the club without submitting a request for transfer.
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United Football Club is an English football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, they play in the Football League Championship. And are renowned for having a very good fan base...
consequently raised their initial offer of £5.5 million to £5.8, in effect compensating Manchester City for the £300,000 discrepancy.
His career and life have been marred by numerous controversial incidents and disciplinary problems, and he has been convicted twice on charges of violence. On 20 May 2008 he was sentenced to six months imprisonment for
common assaultCommon assault was an offence under the common law of England, and seems to now be a statutory offence. It is committed by a person who causes another person to apprehend the immediate use of unlawful violence by the defendant. It was thought to include battery...
and
affrayIn many legal jurisdictions related to English common law, affray is a public order offence consisting of the fighting of two or more persons in a public place to the terror of ordinary people...
during an incident outside a
McDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving nearly 47 million customers daily. At one time it was the largest global restaurant chain, but it has since been surpassed by multi-brand operator Yum! and sandwich chain Subway.In addition to its...
restaurant in
LiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
City Centre. Barton served 77 days of this prison term, being released on 28 July 2008. On 1 July 2008 he was also given a four months suspended sentence after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm on former teammate
Ousmane DaboOusmane Dabo is a French football midfielder who currently plays for S.S. Lazio.He has previously played for Rennes, Internazionale, Vicenza, Parma, Monaco, Atalanta, Lazio and Manchester City...
during a training ground dispute. This incident effectively ended his Manchester City career. Three days after his release, he was charged with violent conduct by The FA for the assault on
Ousmane DaboOusmane Dabo is a French football midfielder who currently plays for S.S. Lazio.He has previously played for Rennes, Internazionale, Vicenza, Parma, Monaco, Atalanta, Lazio and Manchester City...
. In 2004, he was also involved in an incident where he stubbed out a cigar onto the eyes of reserve team player Jamie Tandy during a Manchester City Christmas party at Lucid nightclub. This resulted in permanent scarring for the victim although his vision was to return to normal.
Early life
Born in Liverpool, Barton is the oldest of four brothers. His parents separated when he was 14 years old and consequently he lived with his father at his grandmother's house on a different estate. He has said that his grandmother's influence helped him to avoid getting caught up in a
recreational drug cultureRecreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purposes rather than for work, approved medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear ....
and attributes his work ethic to his father. His father, also named Joseph, worked as a
rooferA roofer specializes in roof construction, concentrating on the application of materials that water proof and / or weather proof buildings,designed material--as a substrate for the roofing materials to be installed on. The rafters, beams, and trusses are the frame or skeleton for the roof to be...
and played football semi-professionally for
Northwich VictoriaNorthwich Victoria Football Club is an English football club based in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire.Northwich are an old club. Records go back to 1874...
. Barton enjoyed physical education at school which he represented in various sports. He left school with seven
GCSEsThe General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 15–16 in secondary education in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland...
.
Early career
Barton pursued his dreams of becoming a professional footballer by joining Everton's youth system, but played for Liverpool when he was 14. He underwent trials at
Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C. are an English professional football club based at the City Ground in West Bridgford, a suburb of Nottingham. They are currently playing in the Coca-Cola Championship, the second tier of the English football pyramid...
, but was rejected when it was decided he was too small to become a footballer. Barton said his rejection by clubs only made him more determined to succeed as a footballer and prove his detractors wrong. He made his first appearance for the club's under-17s team in 1999 and played regularly at Academy level for three years. His first reserve team appearance came at the end of the
2000–01 seasonThe 2000-01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
, in his final year as a trainee. Uncertain about Barton's future prospects, the club planned to release him, but reconsidered and gave him his first professional contract in the close season. Over the next two years, he successfully made the transition from the under-19s to regular reserve football. He was promoted to the first-team squad in the
2002–03 seasonThe 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time....
.
Manchester City
Barton would have made his debut for the City first-team in November 2002 against
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough Football Club , also known as The Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who will play in the Football League Championship for the 2009–10 season, following relegation from the Premier League. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August...
, had he not lost his shirt after leaving it on the substitutes bench at half-time. He eventually made his first-team debut for the club against
Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football club based in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. They are currently in the Premier League....
on 5 April 2003. His first senior goal came two weeks later in a 0–2 win over
Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur Football Club, , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English professional football club based in Tottenham, North London which currently plays in the Premier League...
on
Good FridayGood Friday, also called Holy Friday, Black Friday, or Great Friday, is a holiday observed primarily by adherents to Christianity commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary...
. He ended the
2002–03 seasonThe 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time....
with a run of seven consecutive starts.
After impressing in his first season at City, Barton was offered a new one-year contract at the club by manager
Kevin KeeganJoseph Kevin Keegan, OBE , commonly known as Kevin Keegan, is a former international footballer, and former manager of several English clubs and the England national football team....
, which he signed in April 2003. He featured in the first-team more regularly during the
2003–04The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season and, following a second Premiership goal, was rewarded with a call-up to the
England U21England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
squad for their
2004 European ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 2004, which spanned two years , had 48 entrants. Of the teams to reach the final eight, Germany were chosen as the hosts....
qualifiers against
MacedoniaThe Macedonia national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Macedonia and is controlled by the Football Federation of Macedonia...
and
PortugalThe Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation . They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future...
.
An
FA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association. The name "FA Cup" usually refers to the English men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held...
match against Tottenham saw Barton receive the first red card of his career in unusual circumstances: at
half-timeIn some team sports such as association football and rugby, matches are played in two halves. Half-time is the name given to the interval between the two halves of the match. Typically, after half-time teams swap ends of the field of play, in order to reduce any advantage that may be gained from...
, with his club 3–0 down, he argued with the referee and was sent off although the match was not in progress. In the second half, despite playing with 10 men, Barton's team-mates achieved an unlikely 4–3 victory. Barton left the
City of Manchester StadiumThe City of Manchester Stadium, also known as COMS or Eastlands, is a stadium in Manchester, England. Originally designed as part of Manchester's failed bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics, the stadium was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games at a cost of £110 million...
in anger on 17 April, after not being named in the team to play
SouthamptonSouthampton Football Club are a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. The club were relegated from the Championship in 2009, and play in League One in the 2009–10 season...
. However he featured regularly in the 2003–04 season, which he completed with 39 appearances and one goal. His displays impressed City's supporters, and at the end of the 2003–04 season he was awarded with the club's Young Player of the Year award.
Barton sparked a ten-man brawl in a
friendly matchAn exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
against
Doncaster RoversDoncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008....
on 25 July 2004 after "hacking" at an opposition player. Although he signed a new contract on 22 September 2004, which would keep him at City until 2007, the club considered sacking Barton in December 2004 after an incident at their Christmas party. He stubbed out a lit cigar in youth player Jamie Tandy's eye, after he had caught Tandy attempting to set fire to his shirt. Barton subsequently apologised for his actions and was fined six weeks' wages (£60,000).
The following summer, Barton was sent home from a pre-season tournament in
ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
after assaulting a 15-year-old
EvertonEverton Football Club are an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool. Having competed in the top division for a record 107 seasons, they have played more top-flight league games than any other English team and have won the League Championship 9 times — the fourth highest...
supporter who had provoked Barton by verbally abusing him and kicking his shin. Barton had to be restrained from attacking the boy further by teammate
Richard DunneRichard Patrick Dunne is an Irish footballer, who currently plays in the Premier League as a defender for Aston Villa. He also plays for the Irish national team.-Everton:...
. Barton underwent anger management therapy at the order of City manager
Stuart PearceStuart Pearce MBE , nicknamed "Psycho", is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England Under-21 team....
and paid £120,000 in club fines. In the autumn of 2005, Barton began a seven-day programme of behavioural management at the
Sporting Chance clinicThe Sporting Chance Clinic is a registered British based charity, first set up by former Arsenal and England football captain Tony Adams to provide a specialist addiction and recovery facility for sportsmen and women...
, a charity set up to help troubled sportsmen and women.
Barton handed in a written transfer request in January 2006, which the club rejected. The following day, they also rejected a verbal offer for Barton from
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough Football Club , also known as The Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who will play in the Football League Championship for the 2009–10 season, following relegation from the Premier League. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August...
, with
Stuart PearceStuart Pearce MBE , nicknamed "Psycho", is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England Under-21 team....
asserting that a deal could still be made to keep him at the club. During the following week, Barton admitted that he was "a little bit impetuous" in making such a request and agreed to begin negotiations on a new contract at City. He was rewarded with a new four-year deal, which he signed on 25 July, ending speculation about his future.
His behaviour appeared to improve after his participation at the Sporting Chance clinic. However, on 30 September 2006, television cameras captured Barton exposing his backside to
EvertonEverton Football Club are an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool. Having competed in the top division for a record 107 seasons, they have played more top-flight league games than any other English team and have won the League Championship 9 times — the fourth highest...
fans, following City's injury-time equaliser in a game at
Goodison ParkGoodison Park is a football stadium in Liverpool, England and home ground of Everton F.C. The ground was built in 1892, though it has been greatly developed since, having an all-seated capacity of 40,158....
. Barton had received abuse from Everton supporters throughout the match and the gesture has since been described as "light-hearted" and "inoffensive" by people involved in football.
Merseyside PoliceMerseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England.The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million...
looked into the incident, but announced in October that no further action would be taken, although Barton was fined £2,000 for bringing the game into disrepute and warned about his future conduct by the
The Football AssociationThe Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
.
Barton's agent
Willie McKayWillie McKay is a Scottish football agent based in Monaco. He is the agent of many top-level footballers, mainly based in England and France - specifically the Premier League...
revealed in January 2007 that if any team offered at least £5.5 million for Barton, it would trigger a release clause in his contract that would mean City would have to allow Barton to talk to the interested club. This reportedly prompted
EvertonEverton Football Club are an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool. Having competed in the top division for a record 107 seasons, they have played more top-flight league games than any other English team and have won the League Championship 9 times — the fourth highest...
manager
David MoyesDavid William Moyes is a football manager and former player, currently managing English Premier League club Everton. He was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year...
to make an inquiry to City about Barton's availability. However, the next day Barton said "People are trying to unsettle me but I'm happy to stay here".
Following impressive form at club level, Barton received his first call-up to the full
EnglandThe English national football team represents England in international association football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football in England...
squad on 2 February 2007 for a friendly match against
SpainThe Spanish national football team represents Spain in international football and is controlled by the . The majority of Spain's matches are held at stadia in Madrid and Valencia. The Spanish side are commonly referred to as La Furia Roja .Spain are the current European champions, having won the...
, despite his recent criticism of certain members of the England squad for releasing autobiographies after an unimpressive
2006 World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000...
. He had suggested such players had "cashed in" on the national team's lack of success.
Barton later received support over his comments and
Steven GerrardSteven George Gerrard, MBE , is an English footballer who plays for English Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team. He is usually employed in the central midfield role, although under Liverpool F.C...
, one of the players whom Barton had criticised, praised him for his honesty. However,
Frank LampardFrank James Lampard is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Chelsea and the England national team. He plays most often as a box-to-box midfielder and has also enjoyed spells in a more advanced attacking midfield role...
, who had also released an autobiography following the tournament, publicly stated his disapproval. Barton made his international debut on 7 February 2007, replacing Lampard in the 78th minute of the 0–1 defeat to Spain at Old Trafford.
Barton displayed his outspokenness once again on 22 April 2007 when he publicly criticised City's performances during the
2006–07 seasonThe 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.- Overview :* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
, and described some of the players the club had signed as "substandard". Following his comments, City's manager
Stuart PearceStuart Pearce MBE , nicknamed "Psycho", is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England Under-21 team....
banned him from speaking to the media.
Barton was fined £100,000 and suspended by City until the end of the
2006–07 seasonThe 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.- Overview :* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
on 1 May 2007, following an incident during training when he assaulted his team mate
Ousmane DaboOusmane Dabo is a French football midfielder who currently plays for S.S. Lazio.He has previously played for Rennes, Internazionale, Vicenza, Parma, Monaco, Atalanta, Lazio and Manchester City...
. Dabo said that he had been hit several times, and had to go to hospital after suffering injuries to his head, including a suspected detached
retinaThe vertebrate retina is a light sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical...
. Dabo requested that the police press charges against Barton, and as a result, Barton was arrested and questioned by
Greater Manchester PoliceGreater Manchester Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, in North West England....
. This altercation effectively ended Barton's time at City, although he later cited a "relationship breakdown" with
Stuart PearceStuart Pearce MBE , nicknamed "Psycho", is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England Under-21 team....
as the main reason he left the club. Barton was bailed until August and was later charged with assault, to which he initially pleaded not guilty. He later changed this to a guilty plea and was sentenced to a four month suspended prison sentence plus community service.
Newcastle United
Following offers from Newcastle United and
West Ham UnitedWest Ham United Football Club is an English football club based in Upton Park, London Borough of Newham, East London. They have played their home matches at the Boleyn Ground stadium since 1904....
, Barton joined Newcastle on 14 June 2007 for a fee of £5.8 million. He said that his desire to win trophies helped him to make the decision, along with his admiration for manager
Sam AllardyceSamuel "Sam" Allardyce is an English football manager and former professional player. He is the current manager of Blackburn Rovers of the Premier League. He was previously manager of Bolton Wanderers from 1999 to 2007 and Newcastle United from 2007 to 2008...
. Barton made his Newcastle debut in a friendly against
Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool United Football Club is an English football team currently playing in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
on 17 July 2007. Four days later, he was ruled out for six to seven weeks after fracturing the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot during a friendly match with
Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C. are an English football team based in Carlisle, Cumbria. The club are currently plying their trade in League One - tier 3 of the English football pyramid.-Carlisle United is born:...
. He was ruled out for a further month in October 2007. He eventually made his Premier League debut for Newcastle on 22 October 2007, coming on as a second half substitute in a 3–1 win over Tottenham. During his first
Tyne-Wear derbyThe Tyne and Wear derby is the name of the football local derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland.The derby is an inter-city rivalry in the north east of England, however the fact that the two cities of Newcastle and Sunderland are just ten miles apart give it the intense feeling of a...
for Newcastle against
SunderlandSunderland Association Football Club are a professional association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, that compete in the Premier League. Since their formation in 1879, they have won six First Division titles—in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and 1936 Sunderland Association...
, Barton appeared to raise his foot dangerously in a challenge with Sunderland's
Dickson EtuhuDickson Paul Etuhu is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays for Fulham as a defensive midfielder. Etuhu's younger brother Kelvin is also a footballer.-Early career:...
, leading to the
News of the WorldThe News of the World is a British tabloid newspaper published every Sunday. It is published by News Group Newspapers of News International, itself a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, and can be considered the Sunday sister paper of The Sun. The newspaper concentrates on...
running with the headline "Ban Him". However the FA were unable to charge Barton for the incident because match official
Martin AtkinsonMartin Atkinson is an English football referee who officiates in the Premier League and for FIFA. He was born in Bradford but is now based in Leeds, Yorkshire.-Career:...
had seen the act take place in the match, and had taken no action. FIFA regulations dictate that a retrospective charge for violent conduct can be made only if the match official did not notice the incident. Barton later apologised for the tackle. Early in December, he launched an attack on Newcastle fans, due to their abuse of manager Sam Allardyce and other players. He later played this down, saying his comments had been misrepresented. On 20 May 2008, he was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty for his part in the December 2007 assault. Barton's cousin, Nadine Wilson and his brother Andrew Barton also pleaded guilty to their part in the assaults and received suspended sentences.
Barton's subsequent conviction for the earlier assault on
Ousmane DaboOusmane Dabo is a French football midfielder who currently plays for S.S. Lazio.He has previously played for Rennes, Internazionale, Vicenza, Parma, Monaco, Atalanta, Lazio and Manchester City...
at Manchester City was handed out while serving this sentence. He returned to playing action on 30 August 2008, six days before his FA hearing, as a second half substitute during Newcastle's 3–0 defeat to
ArsenalArsenal Football Club are an English professional football club based in Holloway, North London...
. He came on to a chorus of boos from the Arsenal supporters. Shortly into this return game, Barton was involved in an incident with
Samir NasriSamir Nasri in Marseille is a French international footballer of Algerian descent who currently plays his club football for the English Premier League side Arsenal. A naturally right-footed player, he generally plays on the left side of midfield for Arsenal but has also been used all over the...
, putting in a hard but fair challenge with a sarcastic laugh, for which the referee did not give a foul. Minutes later, Nasri deliberately tripped Barton while tracking back, for which he was booked. At the end of the game, then-Newcastle manager
Kevin KeeganJoseph Kevin Keegan, OBE , commonly known as Kevin Keegan, is a former international footballer, and former manager of several English clubs and the England national football team....
was involved in an altercation with Nasri and
ArsenalArsenal Football Club are an English professional football club based in Holloway, North London...
captain
William GallasWilliam Éric Gallas is a French footballer who plays for English Premier League club Arsenal and the French national team. Regarded as a highly capable player, he primarily plays as a centre-back....
, in regards to the incident.
It was a brief stint back in the playing squad, with Barton banned for six games, with a further suspended six-game ban, for his assault on Dabo. After serving his ban, he played 75 minutes in a reserve game and said he wanted to transform his image to become a role model, before he returned to action in the
Tyne-Wear derbyThe Tyne and Wear derby is the name of the football local derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland.The derby is an inter-city rivalry in the north east of England, however the fact that the two cities of Newcastle and Sunderland are just ten miles apart give it the intense feeling of a...
on 25 October. He was booed by
SunderlandSunderland Association Football Club are a professional association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, that compete in the Premier League. Since their formation in 1879, they have won six First Division titles—in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and 1936 Sunderland Association...
fans and had missiles thrown at him as he warmed up, as Newcastle lost 2–1. Without him, Newcastle had not recorded a league victory since the second game of the season, but Barton scored a penalty in his second game back to lift the club out of the relegation zone. The suspended six-game ban was nearly brought into action when Barton appeared to flick
Aston VillaAston Villa Football Club is an English professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, who play in the Premier League. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of Football League in 1888...
striker
Gabriel AgbonlahorGabriel "Gabby" Imuetinyan Agbonlahor is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa of the Premier League. He is of Nigerian and Scottish descent...
in the club's next game, but the FA decided not to punish Barton. However, further allegations that Barton had made a racist remark to Agbonlahor were cause enough for the FA to reconsider this decision. In Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Wigan on 15 November 2008, Barton was injured after a tackle from
Lee CattermoleLee Barry Cattermole is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Sunderland in the Premier League.-Early life:"Catts" was born in Stockton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire...
. It was later confirmed that Barton would be out for two months.
In his first appearance in over three months on 3 May 2009, Barton was sent off late in the 3–0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield for a two-footed sliding challenge on
Xabi AlonsoXabier "Xabi" Alonso Olano is a Spanish footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. He is a central midfielder, often playing as a deep-lying playmaker. He is known for his ability to read the game and delivering long-distance passes...
, despite replays showing that he got the ball. The red card ruled Barton out of Newcastle's remaining three games of the season, with the club in danger of relegation from the Premier League. Shearer raised doubts about Barton's future at the club, saying "I think it would be wrong to discuss his future now, but I'm not very happy." On 5 May, Newcastle United announced the suspension of Barton indefinitely, and Barton was told to stay away from the club. As a result, Barton's future at Newcastle United is currently in doubt. The club suspension was widely reportedly to have resulted not directly from the red card, but from a dressing room confrontation with Shearer and assistant
Iain DowieIain Dowie is a football manager, who most recently managed Queens Park Rangers F.C., and former professional footballer and Northern Ireland international...
following the game. Shearer said he made a mistake putting Barton back into the team, and that his tackle was "a coward's tackle", to which Barton replied that he was "the best player at the club", and Shearer had to play him. Shearer said that Barton wasn't, that he was "
shitShit in its literal meaning is usually considered a vulgarity and profanity in Modern English. As a noun it refers to fecal matter and as a verb it means to defecate or defecate in; in the plural it means diarrhea...
". Barton replied that Shearer was "a shit manager with shit tactics". When Dowie intervened, Barton called him "a prick". Newcastle are reported to be seeking advice on employment law with the aim of terminating Barton's contract, and Barton has reportedly been transfer listed, with former manager Sam Allardyce reported to be interested in taking Barton to Blackburn Rovers. Barton's counsellor has said that Barton "would love to work with Alan Shearer again" and "feels very much that he owes the club and the fans."
Style of play
Early in his career, Barton mainly played a defensive role, with a game based on tackling and tracking back to shield the defence. As his career has progressed, he has begun to incorporate a more attacking approach to his play, which has resulted in a greater number of goals and assists, and he was Manchester City's leading scorer in 2006–07, despite not playing as a
strikerForwards, also known as attackers and strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Barton has been described as having a good work ethic and the ability to carry the ball and retain possession for the team. He has been praised for having a good passing range. This aspect of his game has shown improvement since the
2005–06 seasonThe 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
, when he began to favour simpler passes over more ambitious ones, and his relatively high pass completion rate can be attributed to this change. Barton's passes have often proved to be crucial; in the past he has led the way in his team's
assistsIn association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps a teammate to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
.
Barton has been described as a tough tackler, a style reflected in the high number of fouls he has committed during his career. He received 39
bookingsMisconduct in association football is any conduct by a player which is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction in accordance with Law 12 of the Laws of the Game....
and three red cards during his time at Manchester City. This physical approach was occasionally criticised by
Kevin KeeganJoseph Kevin Keegan, OBE , commonly known as Kevin Keegan, is a former international footballer, and former manager of several English clubs and the England national football team....
as excessive. Opta statistics rated Barton as the tenth best tackler in the Premier League for the 2004–05 season.
Club
- Correct as of 3 May 2009.
| Season | |Club | |League |
|---|
| League | |FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association. The name "FA Cup" usually refers to the English men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held...
|
|---|
League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Carling Cup, is an English football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
| |EuropeThe Union of European Football Associations is the administrative and controlling body for European football. It is almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA ....
| |Total |
|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|
| 2002–03 |
Manchester CityManchester City Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Manchester. The team is currently a member of the Premier League.The first known competitive fixture was played in November 1880, when the side was known as St...
|
Premier League |
7 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 7 | 1 |
|---|
| 2003–04 |
28 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
| 39 | 1 |
|---|
| 2004–05 |
31 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| 33 | 2 |
|---|
| 2005–06 |
31 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 36 | 6 |
|---|
| 2006–07 |
33 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 38 | 7 |
|---|
| Club Total |
| 130 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 153 | 17 |
|---|
2007–08The 2007–08 Premier League season was the sixteenth since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 11 August 2007, and the season ended on 11 May 2008...
|
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United Football Club is an English football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, they play in the Football League Championship. And are renowned for having a very good fan base...
|
Premier League |
23 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 23 | 1 |
|---|
2008–09The 2008–09 Premier League season was the seventeenth since its establishment in 1992. Manchester United became champions for the eleventh time on the penultimate weekend of the season, defending their crown after winning their tenth Premier League title on the final day of the previous season...
|
9 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 9 | 1 |
|---|
| 2009–10 |
Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League.The Football League Championship was introduced for the 2004–05 season,...
|
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 6 | 0 |
|---|
| Club Total |
| 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
|---|
| Career Total |
| 168 | 17 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 191 | 19 |
|---|
International
- Correct as of 5th March 2009.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|
|
| 2007 |
1 |
0 |
| Career total |
| 1 | 0 |
|---|
Personal life
Barton's half brother, Michael Barton, was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for his involvement in the racially motivated murder of Anthony Walker in 2005. Joey made a public appeal to his brother to come forward and help with the police investigation following the attack, and also made a series of calls to Michael, enquiring about his involvement in the incident.
Barton, himself is a patron of the Tamsin Gulvin Fund, a charity set up to support people who have addiction problems and no financial support.
Tony AdamsAnthony Alexander "Tony" Adams, MBE is an English football manager and former defender. He is the former manager of English Premier League side Portsmouth....
, who had been impressed with Barton's attitude during his involvement in the
Sporting Chance clinicThe Sporting Chance Clinic is a registered British based charity, first set up by former Arsenal and England football captain Tony Adams to provide a specialist addiction and recovery facility for sportsmen and women...
, appointed him to this role. He is a part of the 'Get Hooked on Fishing' campaign, designed to keep children out of trouble by encouraging them to take up
fishingFishing is the activity of catching fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. He has also taken part in a celebrity
cricketCricket is a bat-and-ball team sport that is first documented as being played in southern England in the 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, cricket had developed to the point where it had become the national sport of England. The expansion of the British Empire led to cricket being...
match for charity to help fund a new children's rehabilitation unit at a hospital in
ManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. In 2007, the population of the city was estimated to be 458,100...
.
He is good friend of the
boxerBoxing is a combat sport where two participants, generally of similar weight, fight each other with their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee and is typically engaged in during a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds. There are three ways to win...
Ricky HattonRichard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a British professional boxer...
and has supported him in some of his fights, and has trained with him. He is also a friend of
OasisOasis were an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul Arthurs , Paul McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
band member
Noel GallagherNoel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician, best known as the former principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and occasional vocalist of British rock band Oasis...
, and has dated glamour model Amanda Harrington.
Barton has found himself at the centre of controversy outside football. In May 2005 he broke a 35-year-old pedestrian's leg while driving his car through
LiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
city centre at 2 am. He was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage after an alleged argument with a taxi driver in Liverpool while going to his hotel after a match on 13 March 2007. He was cleared of this charge in May 2008. On 27 December 2007, Barton was arrested on suspicion of assault in the Church Street area of
LiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
city centre following an incident which took place at 5:30 am. He was remanded in custody on 28 December since the alleged offence was committed whilst he was on bail for two prior offences; the presiding magistrate noted "I also have to consider the safety of the public - you lashed out indiscriminately".
He was later charged with common assault and affray, and was sentenced to six months in prison on 20 May 2008. Barton admitted to having an addiction to alcohol and claimed he wanted to achieve "total abstinence" in order to improve his behaviour.
External links
- Profile at nufc.co.uk
- National team profile at FA
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
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