08 January 2024 , 17:10
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He is the former professional footballer making headlines for his vile tirades against women in the sport - but he has had his fair share of other controversies over the years.
Joey Barton, who played midfield for Manchester City, has launched a string of sinister attacks on female football commentators on X, previously Twitter, after being sacked as manager by Bristol Rovers in October. The 41-year-old disturbingly compared pundit Eni Aluko and commentator Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West.
ITV, who employ the pair, described Barton's comments as "contemptible and shameful". Despite angering thousands, he has only added fuel to the fire after claiming his crusade against women in men's football is his "duty" to his great-grandfather and "thousands of men like him" who fought in the First World War. Following a spat with ex-pro and pundit Gary Neville, who hit out at Barton over his disgusting diatribe, Barton wrote on X: "I have a great grandfather who was gassed at Ypres in 1915.
"He received a military medal for bravery later in that war. Patrick Stanton is his name. Look up his citation if you choose. I have a duty to him. And the hundreds of thousands of men like him. Those who gave their lives, so you could have yours. I won’t stand idly by and let you tear down this great country. It’s not perfect but it’s definitely better than most places on this Earth."
Some people have argued his bizarre rants are part of a campaign to keep him in the spotlight as he is set to launch a new podcast. But despite his success in the beautiful game, Barton has faced some low points and disgraceful scandals. Here, we take a look at the ex-footballer's demons...
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Joey Barton has issued a warning to Gary Neville (YouTube/Pearl)Joey, born in Merseyside, was brought up by his grandmother after his parents split up when he was 14. He has credited her influence for him not getting caught up in the drug culture in his neighbourhood as a teen.
He is the oldest of four boys, with one of his brothers, Michael Barton, put behind bars for his involvement in the racially motivated murder of Black British student Anthony Walker in 2005 - alongside his cousin Paul Taylor. He was released from prison in 2022 after being sentenced to life previously.
Walker was just 18 when he was murdered with an ice axe in an unprovoked attack after he had been waiting at a bus stop with his girlfriend. Michael's sentence was reduced to 17 years in 2016 as a result of good behaviour. At the time of the abhorrent crime, Joey made a public appeal for his brother to come forward and help with the investigation as he had fled to the Netherlands.
But Joey himself has also been involved in the courts over the years. In 2007, he was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence plus 200 hours of community service after assaulting teammate Ousmane Dabo during a training session. The player was hospitalised with head injuries, including a detached retina.
The clash effectively ended Barton's time at City and in 2012, Barton responded angrily after being called a 'liar' and 'coward' by Dabo. Barton tweeted: "I see Dabo is yet to move on, I feel for him. What happened was unfortunate. Next time he should think twice about throwing his weight about.
He left Ousmane Dabo hospitalised (Sunday Mirror)
Joey has spent time behind bars (West Ham United FC via Getty Images)"If Ousmane wants to come to a Marseille game, have dinner and discuss it like adults, he’s more than welcome anytime. For me now, its over!" Meanwhile, in 2008, Joey was then sentenced to six months behind bars after admitting to an alcohol problem and pleading guilty following an assault on a man in Liverpool city centre.
CCTV footage captured the footballer punching a man 20 times, causing him to lose consciousness. He was also seen attacking a teenager and breaking some of his teeth during the Boxing Day night altercation. Barton served 74 days of his prison term before being released in July 2008.
But his trouble didn't end there as a year later, as he was fined six weeks' wages by City after stubbing a lit cigar in the eye of young team-mate Jamie Tandy at the club's Christmas party. He was forced to pay four weeks' salary - approximately £60,000 - immediately, with a further two weeks suspended for a year. Tandy later sued Barton, winning £65,000 in damages.
The youth player said Joey had compromised his chance in the sport as it caused a "major psychiatric deterioration" in his health.
It appeared Joey, dressed as Jimmy Saville, had lost his rag when he caught Tandy trying to set his shirt on fire. He also went to personally apologise to manager Kevin Keegan, with the then City boss revealing: "What meant much more was to see him stand in front of me in a room and hear him say how upset and sorry he was."
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Just six months after the cigar incident, Barton hit the headlines again during a pre-season tour in Bangkok, Thailand. Hot-tempered Barton was aggrieved by comments made by a 15-year-old Everton fan at a Bangkok hotel, resulting in a fracas.
Reports claimed Richard Dunne was forced to step in as peacemaker, but Barton then turned on his own captain and the pair had to be pulled apart. Barton was fined eight weeks' wages by City after being found guilty of gross misconduct. City manager Stuart Pearce ordered Barton to undergo a seven-day programme of anger management therapy.
And in 2021, the ex-manager was accused of kicking his wife in the head and grabbing her throat while intoxicated. However the case was dismissed on the grounds of not being able to receive a fair trial as prosecutors would not call the victim to testify.
Joey Barton (left) arriving at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court where he was charged with assault by beating (PA)Georgia Barton allegedly called police claiming he “kicked her in the head" causing a “golf ball-sized lump” during a drunken row. The argument, which she said was around “families”, took place at their house in Kew, southwest London.
Mrs Barton did not give a written statement to police that night, or the day after when she was visited by an officer. Before the trial, she wrote the CPS a letter admitting she had been “drinking heavily since midday” and was not sure what she told police was correct.
Ruling Barton could not get a fair trial, district judge Andrew Sweet said: “The Crown had decided from an early stage they would not be calling Mrs Barton as a witness and that has remained the position. Her new account intended to undermine the prosecution case and conflicted with the account she gave on the body worn footage on the night of June 2.
"The prosecution chose not to take a statement from her at any stage other than on the night in question. Mr Barton would be unable to receive a fair trial in those circumstances and proceedings are stayed.”
Joey married his wife Georgia in 2019 and shares four children with her - Cassius, born in 2011, Pietà born in 2014, Penn born in 2018, and Étienne, born in 2022. They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at the Aynhoe Park country estate in Banbury, Oxfordshire.