Premier League - Barton to miss six games

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Sep 22:02:00 2008

Newcastle's Joey Barton has been handed a six-match ban by the FA, with another six games suspended, for a training-ground attack on Ousame Dabo.

FOOTBALL Newcastle United Joey Barton leaves FA hearing - 0

The troubled midfielder was also fined £25,000 for the assault in May 2007 when he was a Manchester City player.

The suspension begins immediately and Newcastle's home game with Hull City on September 13 will be the first he misses.

The second six matches are suspended until the end of the 2009/10 season and will come into effect should Barton be found guilty of any similar offence involving violence.

A statement on the FA's website read: "Much has been written about Mr Barton over recent months. The Regulatory Commission had the benefit of taking all appropriate information into consideration. The Commission members considered principally the serious attack by Mr Barton that clearly cannot be accepted.

"The members also had to take into consideration the sanctions imposed by the courts and the pro-active support Mr Barton has received from Newcastle United FC and other professional bodies.

"The Commission members wanted to punish the offence appropriately but give Mr Barton an opportunity to ensure his professional conduct does not falter again and ensure he is fully aware of the consequences should he make another serious error of judgement."

Barton faced the independent tribunal after being released from a six-month sentence for an unrelated street assault committed while he was a Newcastle player in December 2007.

At his previous club City, the once-capped England international beat Frenchman Dabo after a row during a training session.

Dabo, who now plays for Lazio in Italy, needed hospital treatment but the FA waited until Barton was convicted by a civil court before handing out the suspension.

Barton is no stranger to controversy, having previously been involved in violent incidents with team-mates, members of the public and opposition players both on and off the pitch while at City.

The Dabo incident prompted his June 2007 sale to Newcastle, who were then managed by Sam Allardyce.

Barton was eventually given a four-month suspended prison sentence for the Dabo assault. By then he had spent time in prison and undergone rehabilitation for alcohol and anger-management problems.

Kevin Keegan - who took over after Allardyce was sacked in January 2008 - inherited the player and vowed to stand by him against the wishes of the board and many fans, even after he was convicted, released and re-convicted.

But Keegan quit St. James' Park a day before the FA hearing and Barton's future at the club is now under serious threat.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 153 - 172 of 172

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  1. I still cannot believe this joke of a punishment! To only get this amount of time for physically attacking a team mate (at the time) is unreal when you have that player who got banned for a year after spitting on a ref durring the olympics. That's some crazy s**t! Barton should be banned for life, he is a waste of the air it takes to keep him alive and one of these days he is really going to hurt someone because he always gets off lightly for being a CRIMINAL. What kind of message does that send out to kids who admire footballers? Hey kids, it's ok to attack someone and send them to the hospital but if you spit on someone you are done for! What a joke.

    From #1_DecoFan, on Wed 10 Sep 12:11AM

  2. Barton is a complete waste of space aswell as a @#$% footballer, how many changes will this little scouse turd get?? He should have been sacked and left to rot as well as being made to pay all of his wages back to nufc!!!! He is an embarrassment!!!!!

    From Scott, on Sun 7 Sep 2:10PM

  3. how long did it take you to think that up

    From mayfly, on Sat 6 Sep 11:41AM

  4. He should be banned from professional football

    From George, on Sat 6 Sep 11:39AM

  5. as cantona once said...forget it, I just forgot what he said!

    From mayfly, on Sat 6 Sep 11:13AM

  6. he is CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY

    From Nathan, on Sat 6 Sep 10:55AM

  7. It is said he is dating a beautiful girl he met through 'Rich k iss C OM'. Is it true? I think everyone would like to see what his profile look like there.

    From May R, on Sat 6 Sep 10:18AM

  8. what an idiot give him a chance r u so stupid how many chances does he need

    From Michael, on Sat 6 Sep 3:57AM

  9. Barton give bad influene to Young Player!!

    From jackson_kua, on Sat 6 Sep 2:20AM

  10. KICK THE LOW LIFE SCUM OUT OF FOOTBALL MAYBE HE CAN BE ASHLEYS AND WISES BODYGUARD AS HE LIKES ATTACKING PEOPLE HE WILL NEVER CHANGE

    From mark c, on Sat 6 Sep 1:01AM

  11. give him a chance Judging by the twaddle i have been reading I reckon most of you are illiterate

    From John Hamer, on Fri 5 Sep 11:50PM

  12. If a player did what scum boy did, he would be banned for life from the local leagues, well done scum boy your a great role model for the youth of Geordieland. Here's an idea go back to the sewer you came from.

    From a.french.222@..., on Fri 5 Sep 11:22PM

  13. BARTON IS GARBAGE. Plain, Simple GARBAGE.

    From Irish Paul, on Fri 5 Sep 11:21PM

  14. ronanoc_11, did you mean special needs???

    From alturn3699, on Fri 5 Sep 11:07PM

  15. Bobby and Sandy does that stand for Bobby Sands you inbreds? Me a Geordie! do me a favour.I would rather be a window licker.Im a Lancastrian and know Fu**ing @#$%e when i see it you m*ngs.

    From alturn3699, on Fri 5 Sep 10:59PM

  16. why do the fa fine him 25k do they honestly believe it will hurt him to##ers

    From jase, on Fri 5 Sep 10:51PM

  17. barton is a t*w*

    From craig.allen23@..., on Fri 5 Sep 10:44PM

  18. Barton is passionate about his football. Its what makes him special

    From rouen, on Fri 5 Sep 10:39PM

  19. Barton is @#$%. He earns thousands a week and acts like a @#$%, if a normal person acted like he did they would be banged up for quite a few years. The FA should take action and ban him from pro football,he has got enough money go and teach some youngsters.
    Act like a pro footballer and not a pro idiot.

    From sam d, on Fri 5 Sep 10:34PM

  20. type 123 if you agree alturn 3699 is a stupid thick tab smoking ale swilling beer gutted wippet rearing keegan arse licker

    From bobby and sandy, on Fri 5 Sep 10:34PM
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