Barton escapes ban

Martyn Ziegler

October 10, 2006

FINED: Joey Barton

JOEY Barton will be available for Manchester Cityés match against Sheffield United on Saturday after escaping a suspension for baring his backside.

The 24-year-old midfielder has been fined é2,000 and warned as to his future conduct after he twice dropped his shorts as a reaction to being taunted by Everton fans during the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on September 30.

Barton had admitted a charge of improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute and was fined by a Football Association disciplinary commission.

In his mitigation, Barton told the disciplinary commission that he had been targeted by fans about his half-brother Michael Barton, who is serving a 17-year prison sentence for the racist murder of Anthony Walker in Liverpool.

City have been supportive of Barton on this occasion and indeed criticised the FAés decision to bring a charge against the player.

In the past however, the club have taken internal action against Barton for misdemeanours.

He was sent home from a pre-season tournament in Thailand in July last year for fighting with a 15-year-old Everton fan in a hotel bar.

Barton was fined six weeksé wages, with a further fine of two weeksé wages suspended for a year, after he jabbed a lit cigar into the eye of City team-mate Jamie Tandy at the clubés Christmas party in 2004.

Do you think the punishment is fair? Have your say.

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Andy, Bury (10/10/2006 at 15:03)

Why does the FA have to be so anal about these things?

James, Cheltenham (10/10/2006 at 15:03)

FA in sensible action shocker.

Hopefully Joey can put this behind him. arf arf

gd, London (10/10/2006 at 15:06)

perfect outcome really. it's an admission that he really didn't do anything too wrong, but will appease those who ask what kind of example it sets to kids.

how about 150k fine and 5 match ban for the next proven diver on a video replay? fat chance!

kev, da Shaw (wythenshawe) (10/10/2006 at 15:09)

GREAT ITS OVER LETS NEVER SPEAK OF THIS AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Al, Macc (10/10/2006 at 15:13)

Would it have been just a grand if he'd only shown one cheek?

Bertie Blue Nose, Eastlands (10/10/2006 at 15:13)

Small earthquake in Chile, no-one dead, as someone once said...

Kev, London (10/10/2006 at 15:14)

FA should have just given a warning. The fine is pointless.

john, london (10/10/2006 at 15:17)

was it really worth it ,apart from the press making a big deal out of it and dragging the club name down again isnt it about time the fa had a good look at themselves and look at more damaging things in the game like cheating and diving and take action instead of petty things

nellie, manchester (where else?) (10/10/2006 at 15:18)

perhaps the FA could found out who the disabled young lad was that barton gave his shirt to and ask him which charity he would like the ??2000 to be donated to.....LOL :o(

Thicko, La-la-land (10/10/2006 at 15:18)

gd, unless it's a City player... LOL

Shanny, Hyde, Cheshire (10/10/2006 at 15:26)

The FA have shown some common sense for a change, but they could have done us a favour and banned Reyna for a few games!

nj blue, usa (10/10/2006 at 15:29)

Ho hum. Life goes on.....CTID

reidus@hotmail.com, sheffield (10/10/2006 at 15:34)

Oh no this story is over. Surely not. I found the whole Barton affair amazingLets appeal, lets go to COurt of Arbitration in Sport. I want more fascinating Barton BLue Mooner headlines!! Its why i follow footy, i love it.

the blue nun, warrington (10/10/2006 at 15:48)

nellie, you make a good point, if only the fa were as thoughful as joey ! will they be going to great lengths to find the everton fans who verbally abused him i wonder ?

Mike, Ashton (10/10/2006 at 16:11)

A superb response by the FA. They perhaps need to come out and say that the chanting is inappropriate and perhaps give Everton fans a warning or even a punishment. Lets face it they have a history of incidents like this. Although it is only a minority, action against Everton as a whole would force the majority to act against the appauling behaviour of the minority in future.

Rynamon, Derby (10/10/2006 at 16:14)

Now let that be an end to this nonsense. Shweeet

Anthony, Toronto (10/10/2006 at 17:23)

Agree with Mike from Ashton - If they fine clubs for racist chants, why not ban for unsporting comments? OK, hard to draw the line between banter and hatred, but worth considering....

Chris, Northwich (10/10/2006 at 17:24)

Where have I been???? what incident in thailand???? what incident at the Xmas party????.....

Noel, Lancashire (10/10/2006 at 18:19)

I'd ban him sine die.He is a total embarrassment to this club.Barton please go I'm fed up of seeing your face staring out of every publication.

R Send, chinum (10/10/2006 at 18:29)

Taken like a real man Joey, you just turned the other cheek and walked away.

Simsim, Finland (10/10/2006 at 20:19)

A fine of 2000 quid? No wonder why he was looking for a pay rise!

Pie in the Sky, Manchester (10/10/2006 at 20:24)

Just as I predicted here as few days ago. The FA were waiting to see the outcoming of public feelings to this incident and also waited to read the latest media report in the weekend papers (maybe helped by the facted in was an International weekend). As I was saying. FA would just give him a "warning" (for what it's worth) and fine him. Thank god that's all over. Now we can all focus on the England game tomorrow night.

Wigan Blue, Wigan (10/10/2006 at 22:55)

Let's have a whip-round to pay the fine boys. Worth it just to see the look on those scouser's faces. Joey - I don't have a problem with this particular activity but you still have to get your act together - start passing to our players!
COME ON CITY

Clive, Cairns (10/10/2006 at 23:35)

Two comments to make at the end of this saga: 1. Why do the media continually have to relate to previous Barton incidents. A year or so ago he probably would have jumped into the crowd and had a go at them, but his reaction this time around is so totally different as is the incident and the only relation you can draw is that the lad has grown up. 2. Why didn't the FA just write him a letter about his conduct and give him a warning in that manner, all the fuss that they went to probably cost more than the 2 grand fine that he'll be paying them? END OF THE SAGA. Come on City!

Ray, Bristol (11/10/2006 at 08:36)

Warning Joey as to his future conduct would have been more than sufficient. Once more the FA has proved itself a joke picking off soft targets but never dealing with anything remotely problemmatic or testing. Pathetic blazers.

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