Premier League - Barton escapes FA action

Eurosport - Fri, 07 Nov 11:11:00 2008

The FA have confirmed that Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton will not face any action over an incident involving Gabriel Agbonlahor in Monday's clash with Aston Villa at St James' Park.

FOOTBALL; Joey Barton, Gabriel Agbonlahor; Newcastle v Aston Villa, Nov 2008 - 0

During the course of the 2-0 win, a result that lifted Newcastle off the bottom of the Premier League table, the midfielder seemed to flick a hand in the face of opposing striker Agbonlahor.

Referee Steve Bennett appeared to have a quiet word with Barton - who moments before the incident had been booked - but it was not clear if the referee had seen his gesture towards Agbonlahor.

However, following the submission of the referee's match report, the FA have confirmed Bennett did see the incident at the time and decided it did not warrant a red card.

Therefore there were no grounds for a retrospective charge to be brought against Barton who, following generous media coverage of the incident, had said "a mountain was being made out of a molehill".

"I thought it was a foul against me, and I had a hold of the ball," Barton told the Newcastle Chronicle.

"We shook hands after the game and that's the way it is. It was all about nothing.

"Nothing has gone on, people are making a mountain out of a molehill."

Barton is playing under the threat of a six-match suspended ban. This follows his return to action three games ago after serving six games of a 12-game ban imposed after a training ground incident involving former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

The remaining part of the ban will come into force should Barton be dismissed for an offence of violent conduct before the end of next season.

Both Villa manager Martin O'Neill and Newcastle assistant Chris Hughton played down the incident after the match at St James' Park.

Barton recently served 74 days in prison for assaulting a 16-year-old boy.

AFP

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  1. deans a berdsas

    From matthewjackson157, on Fri 7 Nov 5:35PM

  2. vermin=rodent=Barton

    From jack torrance, on Fri 7 Nov 2:02PM

  3. I think Barton was very lucky not to get sent off for­ putting his hand in the other chaps face...anyone else­ would have been sent off.
    I must say that after­ watching the so called big four this year it could soon­ be the big two...only Chelsea and Man Utd are really­ any better than the rest of the league. Liverpool and­ Arsenal both look very mediocre so far.

    From kop it, on Fri 7 Nov 11:35AM

  4. We did enough to take three points in the first half,­ Villa are playing games every three days at the mo and­ were leggy in the second half, but this is how football­ is nowadys so they will have to deal with it. The press­ just want Barton to hang himself, no sympathy for him,­ but it was a nothing incident and he should be left­ alone now. If he plays up again that will be it, and he­ knows it.

    From lee, on Wed 5 Nov 10:33PM

  5. This story should be about how totally useless villa­ were the other night.Villa finish in the top 4,don`t­ make me laugh.Pathetic.Oh,and Barton is a horrible­ thug.

    From antfly, on Wed 5 Nov 1:51PM

  6. I suspect that if Barton merely looks at an opponent he­ will be charged with some offence. However, he will­ remain a robust player for the remainder of his­ footballing career. I just hope that he will be able to­ restrain himself outside soccer or he will not be­ exhibiting his undoubted skills of the football field.

    From WILLIAM, on Tue 4 Nov 11:11PM

  7. Joey Barton was not the talking point of the game,the­ talking point should be the way we took the three­ points,i was at the West Brom game and we played­ @#$%,against Villa it was decent football,Barton is­ going to be wound up non stop and he has to live with­ this ,he brought it on himself.He can handle it .

    From Tony, on Tue 4 Nov 10:03PM

  8. Pro-Barton people cant come on these forums and­ complain the man is being given a hard time. He is a­ bad man. just because he does a little time in the­ clink doesnt mean he will have magically reformed.­ Maybe in time he will change minds, and yes, last night­ was a silly mistake that doesnt warrant the coverage­ its getting...but after the reaction to the sunderland­ fans, i think he did himself no favours. if he wants to­ be a hated public figure, then he can carry on, but in­ my opinion he needs to get his head down and play­ football the way he did for City...maybe then he will­ start to effectivly reinstate himself with some sort of­ level of pride.

    From Mac, on Tue 4 Nov 9:53PM

  9. Bring his @#$% @#$% to Brooklyn or the Boogie down­ Bronx and we'll see how tough he is.........haha I­ shudder to think

    From Stephen, on Tue 4 Nov 8:19PM

  10. Well, it sums up the FA really.

    From sappercommando25, on Tue 4 Nov 6:08PM

  11. just let him kill people. we've heard enough of­ him.

    From jeffreyschembri, on Tue 4 Nov 5:44PM

  12. tell us how you really feel *sigh*

    From Andrea, on Tue 4 Nov 5:23PM

  13. NOTHING SHOULD HAPPEN EITHER, IT WAS NOTHING . JUST­ BECAUSE IT WAS JOEY BARTON EVERYBODYS TALKING ABOUT IT.

    From sean.nufc, on Tue 4 Nov 5:19PM

  14. NOTHING SHOULD HAPPEN EITHER, IT WAS NOTHING . JUST­ BECAUSE IT WAS JOEY BARTON EVERYBODYS TALKING ABOUT IT.

    From sean.nufc, on Tue 4 Nov 5:18PM

  15. NOTHING SHOULD HAPPEN EITHER, IT WAS NOTHING . JUST­ BECAUSE IT WAS JOEY BARTON EVERYBODYS TALKING ABOUT IT.

    From sean.nufc, on Tue 4 Nov 5:17PM

  16. NOTHING SHOULD HAPPEN EITHER, IT WAS NOTHING . JUST­ BECAUSE IT WAS JOEY BARTON EVERYBODYS TALKING ABOUT IT.

    From sean.nufc, on Tue 4 Nov 5:17PM
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