Dabo stunned by Barton bust-up

May 03, 2007

AFTERMATH: Ousmane Dabo. Picture by Ray Bradbury

OUSMANE Dabo has described how his violent altercation with Manchester City team-mate Joey Barton left him looking like the "Elephant Man".

The France international required hospital treatment after the pair clashed at the training ground in what Dabo claims was an unprovoked incident which saw Barton banned until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old told The Sun: "When I woke up this morning I looked at myself in the mirror with my face all swollen up and I looked like the Elephant Man.

"I've never known anything like this before in my career."

The pair exchanged fierce challenges which led to them squaring up before, Dabo claims, Barton launched his attack.

He continued: "I just pushed him away and turned my back to walk off. That's when he hit me.

"I really don't remember exactly what happened but I've been told by all my team-mates he hit me from behind, a right hook which hit me on the temple and knocked me out for a few seconds.

"As I started to fall he jumped on top of me, held my head and punched me twice more in the face.

"Apparently when I was on the floor he again punched me before being pulled off.

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"When I came round, and it can only have been a matter of seconds, there was blood everywhere.

"I was spitting blood and my eye was clouded over and when I realised what had happened - I wanted to go after him."

The former Lazio player claims, unlike Barton, he has had no contact with the Professional Footballers' Association and is considering legal action.

"Nobody from the union has contacted me or offered me support. I'm going to speak to my lawyers."

Players' union chief Gordon Taylor insists his organisation have made efforts to contact Dabo.

PFA chief executive Taylor is adamant his staff - in particular Richard Jobson - have done their utmost to reach Dabo and have also offered assistance to his younger brother Moussa, who plays for Oldham.

Taylor said: "We've been in touch with Manchester City and have been trying to make contact with both players.

"Joey Barton has gone away, the club have said they are having an investigation and as regards Dabo, Richard Jobson is looking to make contact with him because he deals with his brother on a regular basis.

"So that is a bit of an odd response. Richard is a really genuine lad and I know if he tells me he has been trying to make contact then he has.

"It's a strange comment because (Dabo) should know his younger brother has been helped considerably by the PFA."

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Simon (03/05/2007 at 09:36)

Why is it Pearce's fault? a player with a history on and off the field of violent incidents decides to lamp another player and its because of Pearce's man management???
What a joke. And dont start with the "frustrated player" rubbish, im sure there are a few frustrated players in the dressing room but they dont go round knocking seven bells out of their team mates. Why is everything Pearce and the boards fault?

PhilB65, Sheffield (03/05/2007 at 09:43)

Whatever we may think of Dabo as a player, there can be no justification for this barbaric attack on him.
The more you read about this the worse it gets. It's truly appalling.

SB23, Wilmslow (03/05/2007 at 09:44)

First of all shocking - and if these events are true - then Barton must be moved on. Looks like Everton are interested anyway. Secondly the MEN are quick to report any story at all - that supports the clubs viewpoint. I notice that stories about how inept Pearce is never seem to be printed - or the fans views. There seems to be a complete lack of discipline at the club from top to bottom - but hey writing that story means the MEN will upset the club. It looks like we will start the season with no Barton, Distin or Richards - and Pearce still in charge - I feel depressed thinking about it - and the season hasn't ended.

BoltonBlue (03/05/2007 at 09:45)

Barton has turned into City's version of Lee Bowyer and needs to be shown the door!

Dabo's performances this season are irrelevant to the incident and Barton has dragged our club through the gutter one time too many!

Lets take whatever we can for an average footballer and move on!

OB1, Transmancunia (03/05/2007 at 09:55)

When I posted that I'd heard JB had really battered Dabo,I would have used itallics for 'really' if I could have. In fact, the comment was career ending. This seems to have been an act of sheer madness by JB and although I doubt that it will end JB's football career, he cannot play for City again.

Perhaps the people questioning why Dabo was not suspended will understand now.

A sad sorry affair and that's my last comment on this subject.

Stevem, Stretford (03/05/2007 at 10:04)

Hope I never see Barton playing Premiership football again.

I really hope that it turns out well for Dabo with City after this. Suspect he will go though. Lets hope the club give him ggod support.

ablueneville, Somewhere in yorkshire (03/05/2007 at 10:08)

Although not an admirer of the style of play (or lack of it) under Pearce I cannot for the life of me see why he is anyway to blame for Barton's attack on Dabo. The only one responsible is Barton himself. Frankly I feel a bit sorry for Barton because he clearly has issues and I fear will end up in even deeper trouble.

john blue, levenshulme (03/05/2007 at 10:14)

LOOK AFTER YOUR 1 ENGLAND CAP JOEY.

ablueneville, Somewhere in yorkshire (03/05/2007 at 10:24)

I don't particularly want to defend the MEN, but there have been plenty of articles pointing out the poor standard of City's football. We all know it, we don't need the MEN to keep reminding us. Regretfully, I think SP must go, but I would be more impressed by those who just mindlessly type 'Pearce Out' if they could also suggest someone who would realistically come in to replace him. Please don't say Billy Davies, otherwise it will be 'Davies Out' in two years time!

Geoff Middlewich, Middlewich Cheshire (03/05/2007 at 10:26)

Why is it Pearce's fault? Because Barton should have been sacked after the cigar incedent and/or bitting Dunne's finger but Pearce forgave him, so he was still at our club to cause further damage.And yes what he said last week was correct but he should still have been disciplined by Pearce for slagging off his teammates in public. It is obvious Pearce has no authority over players. Still it's an ill wind as at least Dabo will not be playing or cluttering up the bench on Saturday. Pearce out.

Shaun, At My Desk (03/05/2007 at 10:31)

Oh dear,oh dear. And all in front of children too. Whilst
it's true to say that Dabo has been mostly truly appalling when he has featured,kicking seven shades of urine out of him is completely and utterly out of order.The season can't end quick enough.Oh I nearly forgot-Pearce/Wardle OUT!

pierce, Littleborough (03/05/2007 at 10:32)

Let me explain if tackles were flying in between these two in training then a flare up was bound to happen, so why did Pearce and the coaching staff not step in to cool it down before the punches were thrown. Still I don't think Pearce is the right man for the job, I am season ticket holder, and haven't seen a goal since new years day. Plus playing 4 - 5 - 1 at home against a team 1 point above us is an absolute joke!!!! Pearce out NOW!

Aidan, Chorlton (03/05/2007 at 10:38)

I've just listened again to the 'Joey Barton Rant' on YouTube which he offered after the Watford game. What's tragic about this is that every word he said about this club is absolutely bang on the button. If the Thai gets control (read his huge biog on Wikipedia), then we need a total clear-out. On Joey, as someone posted yesterday, his disciplinary record would mean that any other normal employer would be terminating his contract with immediate effect. I'm sorry to say that I agree that he should now find himself a new club, although whether Everton will have him after the shorts-dropping incident is another matter. On the PFA and that grossly-overpaid numpty Taylor, it doesn't surprise me that they haven't contacted Dabo. A complete shower.

Olivers Blue Army, Earby, Lancashire (03/05/2007 at 10:42)

The whole thing stinks. As a probation officer I know that anyone coming in front of me for a report would be facing custody for an assault like that, at very least a stiff community penelty. All this 'keeping it in the club' or 'it happens at every club training ground' simply does not wash. Fights occur outside every pub. When it gets out of hand as in this case, the Police are called and people face the Court - end off! Sell Barton asap and lets start treating these over-paid primadonnas with the same stick as the rest of us are expected to abide by.

Mike (03/05/2007 at 10:43)

Barton/ Pearce/ Wardle/ Tueart/ MackinTOSH/ Tyrell/ Wigley... OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PhilB65, Sheffield (03/05/2007 at 10:43)

Pearce should go. He put his eggs in the Barton basket and failed to maintain discpline in the squad as welll as playing the most boring, clueless football for many a year.
As for managers: Sam Allardyce, Paul Simpson, Louis Van Gaal, Co Adriaanse, Dave Jones, Mark Hughes, et al (whoever Al is), and yes, Billy Davies, could all do a better job, ablueneville!

DJ, Chorlton (03/05/2007 at 10:44)

STOP PRESS - Dabo in engages in a crunching tackle !!

Being serious though, more details are emerging about the incident and it is a disgrace. I've supported him as a footballer but if he has played his last game for City then fair enough. As someone else said he will turn into our version of Lee Bowyer before long.

andrew stocks (03/05/2007 at 10:46)

kick this thug out now ! sign two top quality forwards SD will stay MR will also stay and move into the thugs position. and in a years time we will say joey who!

Blackley Blue, Manchester (03/05/2007 at 10:52)

I've seen Darbo's face. He also says he didn't throw the first punch and that he was jumped from behind by Barton.
If any of this is true then it shows Barton to be the thug he is.
If he was half the player he thinks he is, then he'd be twice the player that shows up at City! Unable to take free kicks, or corners, overpaid and over hyped. We should have shown him the door a long time ago. Maybe we did and his peanut for a brain couldn't figure out how to use it!
This along with the Dunn's words earlyer in the season show Pearce has lost the plot and the dressing room.
The sooner this season is finished the better.
God help us on Saturday I fear a bad, bad day on and off the pitch!

lanky_manky (03/05/2007 at 11:08)

Its frustrating becuase barton has showed alot of effort in the past few weeks on the field. Unfortunately it also appears that whilst being a really good player Barton is a total idiot..he's had loads of chances to sort himself out and im not surprised pearce has banned him from now on. Pity!

Mike (03/05/2007 at 11:24)

Barton is a disgrace. He should never pull on the City shirt again. He is a mediocre player at best. He has dillusions of grandure about his own ability. Joey, you are a poor excuse for a human being and even give Scousers a bad name. Good riddance!

Shaun, At My Desk (03/05/2007 at 11:25)

Barton needn't worry about Dabo "consulting his lawyers". The footballers code of silence will guarantee he gets no punishment other than a "hefty" fine. The same code of silence that would have us believe that racism,
homophobia,corruption,and violent thugs don't exist in
professional football.

ablueneville, Somewhere in yorkshire (03/05/2007 at 11:27)

Phil, Sheffield, sorry, mate, but I have a number of friends who are Preston fans and they thought that the football he played was very negative (where have we heard that before). I also recall Nugent saying much the same thing. So tell me what are your reasons for thinking he would do a better job?

steve fenton (03/05/2007 at 11:31)

I did write something which said JB was to blame but the long term cause was poor management. But the more you think about it, plus reading others' comments, that was wrong. There is only on person to blame here - JB out (and he really isn't that good)

Edski Vega, Nottingham (03/05/2007 at 11:35)

I have been saying all season we would lose Barton, Distin and Richards at the end of the season so what has changed? I am usually right and although I would like Barton to stay, you cannot excuse this behaviour

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