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Joey Barton betting ban: Premier League midfielder's controversial past
Joey Barton has been suspended from all football activity for 18 months with immediate effect after he admitted a Football Association misconduct charge related to betting.
It is far from the first time the 34-year-old midfielder, who plans to appeal against the length of the ban, has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.
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Here, Press Association Sport details some of the other incidents:
December 2004 – Stubs lit cigar in the eye of young team-mate Jamie Tandy during Manchester City’s Christmas party. Fined six weeks’ wages by the club. 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.
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July 2005 – Involved in altercation with a 15-year-old Everton fan at City’s team hotel in Bangkok during a pre-season tour. Fined eight weeks’ wages by City after being found guilty of gross misconduct.
September 2006 – Drops his shorts in the direction of Everton fans following City’s 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
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May 2007 – Suspended by City after training-ground altercation with Ousmane Dabo, which leaves his team-mate needing hospital treatment. Charged with assault and, on July 1, 2008, receives a four-month suspended jail sentence. Also punished by FA with a 12-match ban – six matches of which are suspended – and a £25,000 fine.
May 2008 – Jailed for six months after admitting common assault and affray during an incident in Liverpool city centre the previous December.
November 2010 – Punches Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen during a 2-1 defeat for Newcastle at St James’ Park. Accepts an FA charge and is banned for three games.
January 2012 – Unleashes an online tirade against the Football Association, labelling it an ”Orwellian organisation” in need of a ”drastic shake-up”.
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May 2012 – While playing for QPR, is sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez on the final day of the season at Manchester City. Also knees Sergio Aguero, and attempts to headbutt Vincent Kompany before being ushered off the field. Later banned for 12 matches.
September 2016 – Now a Rangers player, Barton is banished from the club’s training ground following an alleged altercation with team-mate Andy Halliday.
