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{{Short description|English association football player and manager (born 1982)}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Similar names|Joseph Barton (disambiguation){{!}}Joseph Barton}}
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{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name            = Joey Barton
| image           = Joey Barton 2023.png
| image_size      =
| caption         = Barton in 2023
| fullname        = Joseph Anthony Barton<ref name=Hugman1011>{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 |year=2010 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-84596-601-0 |page=36}}</ref>
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1982|9|2|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman1011/>
| birth_place     = [[Huyton]], [[Merseyside]], England
| height          = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}<ref name=Hugman1011/>
| position        = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub     = 
| youthyears1     = {{0|0000}}–1996
| youthclubs1     = [[Everton F.C. Reserves and Academy|Everton]]
| youthyears2     = 1996
| youthclubs2     = [[Liverpool F.C. Reserves and Academy|Liverpool]]
| youthyears3     = 1997–2002
| youthclubs3     = [[Manchester City F.C. Reserves and Academy|Manchester City]]
| years1          = 2002–2007 | clubs1 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]         | caps1 = 130 | goals1 = 15
| years2          = 2007–2011 | clubs2 = [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]       | caps2 = 81  | goals2 = 7
| years3          = 2011–2015 | clubs3 = [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] | caps3 = 93  | goals3 = 7
| years4          = 2012–2013 | clubs4 = → [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] (loan)    | caps4 = 25  | goals4 = 0
| years5          = 2015–2016 | clubs5 = [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]                         | caps5 = 38  | goals5 = 3
| years6          = 2016      | clubs6 = [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]                         | caps6 = 5   | goals6 = 0
| years7          = 2017      | clubs7 = [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]                         | caps7 = 14  | goals7 = 1
| totalcaps       = 386
| totalgoals      = 33
| nationalyears1  = 2003 | nationalteam1 = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2  = 2007 | nationalteam2 = [[England national football team|England]]              | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2018–2021
| managerclubs1 = [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]]
| manageryears2 = 2021–2023
| managerclubs2 = [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
}}
'''Joseph Anthony Barton''' (born 2 September 1982) is an English professional [[Manager (association football)|football manager]] and former [[Football player|player]] who played as a [[midfielder]].  Barton made 269 appearances in the [[Premier League]], including 130 for [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]; he was most recently the manager of [[EFL League One|League One]] side [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]].

Barton was born and raised in [[Huyton]], [[Merseyside]]. He began his football career with Manchester City in 2002 after working his way through their youth system. His appearances in the first team gradually increased over the following five years and he made more than 150 for the club. He earned his only [[Cap (sport)|cap]] for the [[England national football team|England national team]] in February 2007. He joined [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] for a fee of £5.8&nbsp;million in July 2007. After four years with the club, he joined [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] in August 2011, from where he was loaned to [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] in 2012. He returned from his loan spell the following season, and helped QPR to promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs.

QPR were relegated again, and Barton was released at the end of the season. He signed a one-year deal to play for [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] in 2015, helping them win promotion to the Premier League, but left to join [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] in May 2016. He was banned from football after admitting a [[The Football Association|Football Association]] charge relating to betting in April 2017, and upon its expiry in June 2018 commenced his managerial career with [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]], remaining in charge until January 2021.

Barton's career and life have been marked by numerous controversial incidents and disciplinary problems<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.4thegame.com/club/newcastle-united-fc/player-profile/3601/joeybarton.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122033442/http://www.4thegame.com/club/newcastle-united-fc/player-profile/3601/joeybarton.html |archive-date=22 January 2009 |title=4thegame Profile |publisher=4thegame.com |access-date=13 July 2007}}</ref> and he has been convicted twice of violent crimes. On 20 May 2008, he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for [[common assault]] and [[affray]] during an incident in [[Liverpool]] city centre.<ref name="Joey Barton is jailed for assault" /> Barton served 74 days of this prison term, being released on 28 July 2008.<ref name="Barton released from jail">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jul/28/bartonreleased |title=Barton released from jail |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=1 July 2008 |location=London}}</ref> On 1 July 2008, he was also given a four-month suspended sentence after admitting [[assault occasioning actual bodily harm]] on former teammate [[Ousmane Dabo]] during a training-ground dispute on 1 May 2007.<ref name="ABHConviction">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7482620.stm |title=Barton is sentenced for assault |work=BBC News |date=1 July 2008}}</ref> This incident effectively ended his Manchester City career.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2070318,00.html |date=2 May 2007 |access-date=9 September 2007 |title=City wash their hands of Barton after fight at training ground |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Daniel |last=Taylor}}</ref> Barton has been charged with violent conduct three times by [[The Football Association]]: for the assault on Dabo,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2008/05/Statement_Barton_charged_July.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090322202947/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2008/05/Statement_Barton_charged_July.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 March 2009 |access-date=31 July 2008 |title=Barton Charged |publisher=The Football Association}}</ref> for punching [[Morten Gamst Pedersen]] in the stomach,<ref name="bbcsport">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/9181426.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Newcastle's Joey Barton charged over alleged punch |date=11 November 2010}}</ref> and for attacking three players in the [[Manchester City F.C. 3–2 Queens Park Rangers F.C.|final game of the 2011–12 season]] where he got sent off against Manchester City.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |title=Joey Barton hit with 12-match ban for violent conduct in QPR's 3–2 defeat against Manchester City |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/9285451/Joey-Barton-hit-with-12-match-ban-for-violent-conduct-in-QPRs-3-2-defeat-against-Manchester-City.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/9285451/Joey-Barton-hit-with-12-match-ban-for-violent-conduct-in-QPRs-3-2-defeat-against-Manchester-City.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=23 May 2012 |access-date=23 May 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Early life==
Born in [[Huyton]], Merseyside,<ref name=Hugman1011/> Barton is the oldest of four brothers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1503721/Footballer-tells-of-calls-to-murder-suspect-brother.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1503721/Footballer-tells-of-calls-to-murder-suspect-brother.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |first=Nigel |last=Bunyan |date=24 November 2005 |access-date=1 December 2011 |title=Footballer tells of calls to murder suspect brother |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His parents separated when he was 14 years old and consequently he lived with his father at his grandmother's house on a different estate.<ref name="FourFourTwo: Joey Barton">{{cite news |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/joey-barton-qa |access-date=26 February 2014 |title=Joey Barton&nbsp;– Q & A&nbsp;– Interviews – FourFourTwo |magazine=FourFourTwo}}</ref> He has said that his grandmother's influence helped him to avoid getting caught up in a [[Recreational drug use|recreational drug culture]] and attributes his work ethic to his father.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/joey-bartons-damning-verdict-on-footballs-1629813 |first=Paul |last=McCarthy |date=17 December 2006 |access-date=26 February 2014 |title=Joey Barton's damning verdict on football's pampered elite |newspaper=The Sunday People |location=London}}</ref><ref name="FourFourTwo: Joey Barton"/> His father, also named Joseph, worked as a [[roofer]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1495408/Give-yourself-up-Michael-pleads-footballer.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1495408/Give-yourself-up-Michael-pleads-footballer.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |first=Paul |last=Stokes |date=3 August 2005 |access-date=1 December 2011 |title=Give yourself up Michael, pleads footballer |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and played football semi-professionally for [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]].<ref name=Scrapbook>{{cite news |title=Scrapbook: Joey Barton |work=Manchester City FC vs Liverpool match programme, p41 |date=14 April 2007}}</ref> Barton enjoyed physical education at his school, [[St Thomas Becket Catholic High School|St Thomas Becket]], which he represented in various sports and was a talented [[rugby league]] prospect. He left school with ten [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSEs]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton: What's behind his Twitter philosophy? |first=Tom |last=de Castella |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14662175 |work=BBC News |date=26 August 2011 |access-date=1 December 2011}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Early career===
Barton joined Everton's youth system. He played for Liverpool when he was 14.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} He underwent [[Trial (association football)|trials]] at [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], but was rejected when it was decided he was too small to become a footballer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11679_2276165,00.html |first=James |last=Pearson |date=14 September 2003 |access-date=1 August 2007 |title=Barton reveals Forest rejection |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> Barton said his rejection by clubs only made him more determined to succeed as a footballer and prove his detractors wrong.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11679_2289148,00.html |first=Paul |last=Higham |date=24 January 2004 |access-date=1 August 2007 |title=Barton: Toffees snub helped me |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> He made his first appearance for [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]'s under-17s team in 1999.<ref>{{cite web | title=Joey Barton | website=England Players | date=25 March 2025 | url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersB/BioBartonJA.html | access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref> His first reserve-team appearance came at the end of the [[2000–01 Manchester City F.C. season|2000–01 season]], in his final year as a trainee.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} Uncertain about Barton's future prospects, the club planned to release him,<ref>{{cite news |title=Profile: Joey Barton |work=Manchester City FC vs Wigan Athletic match programme, p19 |date=28 January 2006}}</ref> but reconsidered and gave him his first professional contract in the close season.<ref name=Scrapbook/> Over the next two years, he made the transition from the under-19s to regular reserve football.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} He was promoted to the first-team squad aged 19.<ref>{{cite web | last=Peacock | first=James | title=Joey Barton on coaching, control, studies and World Cup chances | website=BBC Sport | date=3 April 2014 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26866687 | access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref>

===Manchester City===
[[File:Barton leap.jpg|thumb|upright|Barton playing for [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in 2004]]

Barton would have made his debut for the City first team in November 2002 against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], had he not lost his shirt after leaving it on the substitutes bench at half-time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11679_2250687,00.html |date=25 November 2002 |access-date=18 July 2007 |title=Things get shirty for City starlet |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> He eventually made his first-team debut for the club against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] on 5 April 2003.<ref>Bailey, Chris (7 April 2003) [http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/55/55678_barton_lifts_citys_gloom.html "Barton lifts City's gloom"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524005516/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/55/55678_barton_lifts_citys_gloom.html |date=24 May 2012 }}. ''Manchester Evening News''. Retrieved 1 December 2011.</ref> His first senior goal came two weeks later in a 2–0 win over [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] on [[Good Friday]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2936441.stm |date=18 April 2003 |access-date=12 July 2007 |title=City cruise past Spurs |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He ended the 2002–03 season with a run of seven consecutive starts.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

After impressing in his first season at City, Barton was offered a new one-year contract at the club by manager [[Kevin Keegan]], which he signed in April 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/2950239.stm |date=22 September 2003 |access-date=10 July 2007 |title=Barton signs new City deal |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He featured in the first team more regularly during the [[2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season|2003–04 season]] and, following a second Premiership goal, was rewarded with a call-up to the [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] squad for their [[2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship|2004 European Championship]] qualifiers against [[Macedonia national under-21 football team|Macedonia]] and [[Portugal national under-21 football team|Portugal]].<ref name="Platt sings Barton's praise">{{cite news |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/09/64237.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050410212050/http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/09/64237.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 April 2005 |date=3 September 2003 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Platt sings Barton's praise |publisher=The Football Association}}</ref>

An [[FA Cup]] match against Tottenham saw Barton receive the first [[Red card (sports)|red card]] of his career in unusual circumstances: at [[half-time]], with his club 3–0 down, he argued with the referee and was sent off although the match was not in progress. In the second half, despite playing with 10 men, Barton's teammates achieved an unlikely 4–3 victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2004/02/05/1038343.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028004702/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2004/02/05/1038343.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 October 2007 |access-date=26 July 2007 |title=Man City write new chapter in FA Cup lore |publisher=ABC news|date=4 February 2004 }}</ref> Barton left the [[City of Manchester Stadium]] in anger on 17 April, after not being named, by manager Keegan, in the team to play [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Joey Barton: 18-month ban adds more controversy to complex career | website=BBC Sport | date=26 April 2017 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39724535 | access-date=18 June 2025}}</ref> However, he featured regularly in the 2003–04 season, which he completed with 39 appearances and one goal.<ref>{{cite web | title=Season 2003/2004 | website=Soccer Base | date=2 September 1982 | url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=34138&season_id=133 | access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref> His displays impressed City's supporters, and at the end of the 2003–04 season he was awarded with the club's Young Player of the Year award.<ref name=Scrapbook/>

Barton sparked a ten-man brawl in a [[Exhibition game#Association football|friendly match]] against [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] on 25 July 2004 after "hacking" at an opposition player.<ref name="Keegan fury at Barton">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/3923995.stm |date=25 July 2004 |access-date=10 July 2007 |title=Keegan fury at Barton |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Although he signed a new contract on 22 September 2004, which would keep him at City until 2007,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/3679346.stm |date=15 April 2004 |access-date=10 July 2007 |title=Barton earns new deal |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> the club considered sacking Barton in December 2004 after an incident at their Christmas party. He stubbed out a lit cigar in youth player Jamie Tandy's eye,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barton-faces-fine-after-party-1132928 |date=22 December 2007 |access-date=26 February 2014 |title=Barton faces fine after party fracas |first=Peter |last=Spencer |newspaper=Manchester Evening News}}</ref> after he had caught Tandy attempting to set fire to his shirt.<ref name="Barton fined £60,000 for fracas">{{cite news |url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article26003.ece |first=Sam |last=Wallace |date=23 December 2004 |access-date=18 July 2007 |title=Barton fined £60,000 for fracas |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154755/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article26003.ece |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> Barton subsequently apologised for his actions and was fined six weeks' wages (£60,000).<ref name="Barton fined £60,000 for fracas"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4124241.stm |date=24 December 2004 |access-date=8 July 2007 |title=Barton apologises to boss Keegan |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

In May 2005, Barton broke a 35-year-old pedestrian's leg while driving his car through [[Liverpool]] city centre at 2&nbsp;am.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article2581253.ece |date=3 October 2007 |access-date=4 March 2008 |title=Joey Barton feels Manchester City fans owe him a debt |newspaper=The Times |location=London |first=Anushka |last=Asthana}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In the summer of 2005, Barton was sent home from a pre-season tournament in Thailand after assaulting a 15-year-old [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] supporter<ref>Rob Hughes (7 February 2006) [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/07/sports/07iht-SOCCER.html?_r=0 "Enigmas of 2 tarnished stars"]. ''International Herald Tribune'' (La Défense). Retrieved 26 February 2014.</ref> who had provoked Barton by verbally abusing him and kicking his shin.<ref name="Profile:Joey Barton">{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article550765.ece |date=2 August 2005 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Profile:Joey Barton |first=Jenny |last=Booth |newspaper=The Times |location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Barton had to be restrained from attacking the boy further by teammate [[Richard Dunne]].<ref name="Barton completes move to Magpies"/> Barton underwent anger management therapy at the order of City manager [[Stuart Pearce]] and paid £120,000 in club fines.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11679_2345065,00.html |first=Paul |last=Higham |date=6 August 2005 |access-date=1 August 2007 |title=Barton asks for help |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> In the autumn of 2005, Barton began a seven-day programme of behavioural management at the [[Sporting Chance Clinic]], a charity set up to help troubled sportsmen and women.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barton-rebel-with-an-amazing-capacity-for-trouble-767095.html |date=28 December 2007 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Barton: Rebel with an amazing capacity for trouble |first=Sam |last=Wallace |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110131631/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barton-rebel-with-an-amazing-capacity-for-trouble-767095.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Barton handed in a written transfer request in January 2006, which the club rejected.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4663950.stm |date=30 January 2006 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Man City reject request by Barton |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> The following day, they also rejected a verbal offer for Barton from Middlesbrough.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4667892.stm |date=31 January 2006 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Man City reject Boro's Barton bid |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> During the following week, Barton said that he had been "a little bit impetuous" in making such a request and agreed to begin negotiations on a new contract at City.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4684956.stm |date=6 February 2006 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Barton to end row by signing deal |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He was rewarded with a new four-year deal, which he signed on 25 July, ending speculation about his future.<ref>[http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/team-news/2006/july/barton-signs-new-deal "Barton signs new deal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703122119/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/team-news/2006/july/barton-signs-new-deal |date=3 July 2015 }}. Manchester City F.C. 25 July 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=enPlayerProfile&playerId=256600 |access-date=25 July 2007 |title=Player Profile |publisher=Premier League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221081255/http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=enPlayerProfile&playerId=256600 |archive-date=21 February 2006}}</ref>

[[File:JoeyBarton 14 04 07.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Barton playing for Manchester City in 2007]]

Barton's behaviour appeared to improve after his participation at the Sporting Chance Clinic.<ref name=forengland>{{cite news |url=http://www.squarefootball.net/article/article.asp?aid=2702 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060222204826/http://www.squarefootball.net/article/article.asp?aid=2702 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2006 |access-date=4 March 2008 |title=Manchester City: Joey Barton for England? |work=squarefootball.net}}</ref> However, on 30 September 2006, television cameras captured Barton exposing his backside to Everton fans, following City's injury-time equaliser in a match at [[Goodison Park]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5395778.stm "Police to probe Barton incident"]. BBC Sport. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2006.</ref> Barton had received abuse from Everton supporters throughout the match and the gesture has since been described as "light-hearted" and "inoffensive" by people involved in football.<ref name="Barton books in">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6335407.stm |date=7 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2007 |title=Barton books in |last=McNulty |first=Phil |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/5409860.stm |date=6 October 2006 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Holloway backs 'cheeky' Barton |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> [[Merseyside Police]] looked into the incident, but announced in October that no further action would be taken,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/5395778.stm |date=4 October 2006 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Police take no action over Barton |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> although Barton was fined £2,000 for bringing the game into disrepute and warned about his future conduct by The Football Association.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/5409082.stm |date=10 October 2006 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Barton gets fine but escapes ban |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

In November 2006, Barton was involved in a [[Goal celebration|memorable goal celebration]]. After scoring for Manchester City against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], striker [[Bernardo Corradi]] ran to the corner flag, followed by teammate Joey Barton. Corradi proceeded to remove the corner flag and "[[knight]]" the kneeling Barton.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bravo Bernardo, from duffer to dubber |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/nov/22/comment.gdnsport3 |access-date=9 October 2018 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> In December 2006, Barton received the second red card of his career, for a late two-footed tackle on Bolton Wanderers player [[Abdoulaye Faye]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/dec/24/match.sport8 |date=24 December 2006 |access-date=14 November 2010 |title=Anelka at double but Barton in trouble |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Duncan |last=MacKay}}</ref>

Barton's agent [[Willie McKay]] said in January 2007 that if any team offered at least £5.5&nbsp;million for Barton, it would trigger a release clause in his contract that would mean City would have to allow Barton to talk to the interested club.<ref name="City dismiss Barton inquiry">{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11671_2402470,00.html |date=16 January 2007 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=City dismiss Barton enquiry |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> This reportedly prompted Everton manager [[David Moyes]] to make an inquiry to City about Barton's availability.<ref name="City dismiss Barton inquiry"/> The next day Barton said: "People are trying to unsettle me but I'm happy to stay here".<ref>Andy Hunter (17 January 2007) [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barton-insists-he-is-staying-put-but-everton-lie-in-wait-432388.html "Barton insists he is staying put but Everton lie in wait"]. ''The Independent'' (London). Retrieved 26 February 2014.</ref>

Barton was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage after an alleged argument with a taxi driver in Liverpool while going to his hotel after a match on 13 March 2007.<ref name="auto2">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6445203.stm "City star arrested over assault"]. BBC News. Retrieved 13 March 2007.</ref> He was cleared of this charge in May 2008.<ref name="auto">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7428263.stm "Barton cleared over taxi damage"]. BBC News. Retrieved 30 May 2008.</ref>

Barton displayed his outspokenness once again on 22 April 2007 when he publicly criticised City's performances during the [[2006–07 Manchester City F.C. season|2006–07 season]], and described some of the players the club had signed as "substandard".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/6580953.stm |date=22 April 2007 |access-date=22 July 2007 |title=Barton criticises Man City season |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Following his comments, City's manager Stuart Pearce banned him from speaking to the media.<ref name="Pearce bans Barton from talking to media after public outburst">{{cite news |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2066512,00.html |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |date=27 April 2007 |access-date=11 July 2007 |title=Pearce bans Barton from talking to media after public outburst |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref>

Barton was fined £100,000 and suspended by City until the end of the 2006–07 season on 1 May 2007, following an incident during training when he assaulted his teammate [[Ousmane Dabo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/story/511870/footie-fight-i-look-like-elephant-man |title=Footie Fight: 'I Look Like Elephant Man' |publisher=Sky News |date=3 May 2007 |access-date=12 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128044243/http://news.sky.com/story/511870/footie-fight-i-look-like-elephant-man |archive-date=28 January 2014 }}</ref> Dabo said that he had been hit several times, was left unconscious and had to go to hospital after suffering injuries to his head, including a suspected detached [[retina]].<ref name="auto5">Alec Hayes (3 May 2007) [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2312362/Barton-branded-a-coward-by-Dabo.html "Barton branded a 'coward' by Dabo"]. ''The Daily Telegraph'' (London).</ref> Dabo requested that the police press charges against Barton,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6627567.stm |date=5 May 2007 |access-date=5 May 2007 |title=Police get Barton 'attack' report |work=BBC News}}</ref> and as a result, Barton was arrested and questioned by [[Greater Manchester Police]].<ref name="auto11">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6660503.stm |date=16 May 2007 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Barton is arrested over assault |work=BBC News}}</ref> This altercation effectively ended Barton's time at City. He later cited a "relationship breakdown" with Stuart Pearce as the main reason he left the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2128767,00.html |first=Louise |last=Taylor |date=18 July 2007 |access-date=18 July 2007 |title=Barton kicks off at St James' with swipe at Pearce |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> Barton was bailed until August and was later charged with assault,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6292818.stm |date=11 July 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |title=Police extend Joey Barton's bail |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6927605.stm |date=2 August 2007 |access-date=2 August 2007 |title=Player Barton charged over attack |work=BBC News}}</ref> to which he initially pleaded not guilty.<ref name="auto7">{{cite news |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1279211,00.html |date=9 August 2007 |access-date=9 September 2007 |title=Barton in Court Over Player 'Bust-Up' |publisher=Sky News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029032907/http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0%2C%2C30100-1279211%2C00.html |archive-date=29 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He later changed this to a guilty plea and on 1 July 2008 was sentenced to a four-month suspended prison sentence plus 200 hours of community service and ordered to pay £3,000 compensation and Dabo's court costs.<ref name=ABHConviction/> Barton was also charged with violent conduct by the FA.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7535664.stm |title=FA charges Barton over Dabo clash |date=31 July 2008 |access-date=14 November 2010 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Barton pleaded guilty<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7559141.stm |title=Barton admits to violent conduct |date=13 August 2008 |access-date=14 November 2010 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> and on 1 September 2008 was banned for six matches, with a further six-match ban suspended for two years, and fined £25,000.<ref name=2008ban/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39720232 |title=Joey Barton: Burnley midfielder banned for 18 months over betting |date=26 April 2017 |access-date=29 March 2022 |newspaper=BBC |location=London}}</ref>

===Newcastle United===
[[File:Joeybarton161207.jpg|thumb|upright|Barton warming up for [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] in 2007]]

Following offers from Newcastle United and [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football_english.cfm?id=884852007 |access-date=10 July 2007 |title=Newcastle fend off West Ham to seal £5.5m Barton signing |last=Spellman |first=Daniel |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh}}</ref> Barton joined Newcastle on 14 June 2007 for a fee of £5.8&nbsp;million.<ref name="Barton completes move to Magpies"/> The contract negotiations had become protracted after Manchester City refused to pay Barton a fee of £300,000 to which he was reported to be entitled if he left the club without submitting a request for transfer.<ref name="Barton completes move to Magpies">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6725067.stm |access-date=10 July 2007 |title=Barton completes move to Magpies |last=Hunter |first=Andy |work=BBC Sport |date=14 June 2007}}</ref> [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] consequently raised their initial offer of £5.5&nbsp;million to £5.8, in effect compensating Manchester City for the £300,000 discrepancy. He said that his desire to win trophies helped him to make the decision, along with his admiration for manager [[Sam Allardyce]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.inthenews.co.uk/sports/football/rugby-league/premiership-teams-2007-2008/newcastle/barton-joins-newcastle-$1099587.htm |date=14 June 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |title=Barton joins Newcastle |publisher=inthenews.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155744/http://www.inthenews.co.uk/sports/football/rugby-league/premiership-teams-2007-2008/newcastle/barton-joins-newcastle-%241099587.htm |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> Barton made his Newcastle debut in a friendly against [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] on 17 July 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hartlepool-united-1-newcastle-united-1501040 |date=17 July 2007 |access-date=26 February 2014 |title=Hartlepool United 1, Newcastle United 3 |last=Ryder |first=Lee |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle}}</ref> Four days later, he was ruled out for six to seven weeks after fracturing the fifth [[metatarsal]] bone in his left foot during a friendly match with [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2621462,00.html |date=22 July 2007 |access-date=22 July 2007 |title=Magpies confirm Barton blow |last=Pearson |first=James |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> He was ruled out for a further month in October 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7022059.stm |date=1 October 2007 |access-date=1 October 2007 |title=Newcastle hit by Barton setback |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

Barton eventually made his [[Premier League]] debut for Newcastle on 22 October 2007, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 win over Tottenham.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7043010.stm |date=22 October 2007 |access-date=23 October 2007 |title=Newcastle 3–1 Tottenham |work=BBC Sport |first=Chris |last=Bevan}}</ref> During his first Tyne–Wear derby for Newcastle against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], Barton appeared to raise his foot dangerously in a challenge with Sunderland's [[Dickson Etuhu]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7076643.stm |date=10 November 2007 |access-date=13 November 2007 |title=Sunderland 1–1 Newcastle |work=BBC Sport |first=Phil |last=McNulty}}</ref> leading to the ''[[News of the World]]'' running with the headline "Ban Him".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/life-crimes-joey-barton-131844266.html |title=The life and crimes of Joey Barton |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224212643/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/life-crimes-joey-barton-131844266.html |archive-date=24 February 2014 }}</ref> The FA were unable to charge Barton for the incident because match official [[Martin Atkinson]] had seen the act take place in the match, and had taken no action. FIFA regulations dictate that a retrospective charge for violent conduct can be made only if the match official did not notice the incident. Barton later apologised for the tackle.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7089442.stm |date=13 November 2007 |access-date=13 November 2007 |title=Barton apologises for high tackle |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Early in December, he called for Newcastle fans to give the team more time after their abuse of manager Sam Allardyce, calling them "vicious".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7122616.stm |date=1 December 2007 |access-date=1 December 2007 |title=Newcastle fans vicious – Barton |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He later played this down, saying his comments had been misrepresented.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1183723,00.html |date=5 December 2007 |access-date=5 December 2007 |title=Joey BarToon: Fans Are Crucial |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213073142/http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10278~1183723%2C00.html |archive-date=13 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 27 December 2007, Barton was arrested on suspicion of assault in the Church Street area of Liverpool city centre following an incident which took place at 5:30&nbsp;am.<ref name="auto6">{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-barton-fapl-idUKL2728171420071228|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113044833/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-barton-fapl-idUKL2728171420071228|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 January 2016|date=28 December 2007 |access-date=26 February 2014 |title=Newcastle's Barton charged with assault |publisher=Reuters UK |first=Luke |last=Baker}}</ref> He was remanded in custody on 28 December since the offence was committed whilst he was on bail for two prior offences; the presiding magistrate said: "I also have to consider the safety of the public – you lashed out indiscriminately".<ref name="auto10">{{cite news |title=Newcastle Footballer Joey Barton Denied Bail, Locked Up on Assault Charge |url=http://news.sky.com/story/561940/newcastle-footballer-joey-barton-denied-bail-locked-up-on-assault-charge |publisher=Sky News |date=28 December 2007 |access-date=24 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703013215/http://news.sky.com/story/561940/newcastle-footballer-joey-barton-denied-bail-locked-up-on-assault-charge |archive-date=3 July 2015 }}</ref> CCTV showed Barton punching a man twenty times, causing him to lose consciousness, and attacking a teenager, breaking some of his teeth. On 20 May 2008, he was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty for his part in the December 2007 assault. Barton's cousin, Nadine Wilson, and his brother Andrew Barton also pleaded guilty to their part in the assaults and received suspended sentences.<ref name="Joey Barton is jailed for assault">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7409943.stm |date=20 May 2008 |access-date=29 April 2016 |title=Joey Barton is jailed for assault |work=BBC News}}</ref> Barton admitted to being an alcoholic and claimed he wanted to achieve "total abstinence" in order to improve his behaviour.<ref name="Joey Barton is jailed for assault"/> He served 74 days of his prison term, being released on 28 July 2008.<ref name="Barton released from jail"/>

Barton's subsequent conviction, a four-month suspended sentence for the earlier assault on Ousmane Dabo at Manchester City, was handed out while serving this sentence.<ref name=ABHConviction/> He returned to playing action on 30 August 2008, six days before his FA hearing, as a second-half substitute during Newcastle's 3–0 defeat to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. He came on to a chorus of boos from the Arsenal supporters.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7578425.stm |title=Arsenal 3–0 Newcastle |date=30 August 2008 |access-date=30 August 2008 |work=BBC Sport |first=Mandeep |last=Sanghera}}</ref> Shortly into this return match, Barton was involved in an incident with [[Samir Nasri]], putting in a strong tackle, for which the referee did not give a foul. The tackle, though hard, was legal. Minutes later, Nasri deliberately clipped Barton while tracking back, for which he was booked. At the end of the match, Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan was involved in an altercation with Nasri and Arsenal captain [[William Gallas]], in regards to the incident.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/568042 |title=Keegan keen to defend bad boy Barton |work=ESPN FC |date=30 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923150829/http://www.espnfc.com/story/568042 |archive-date=23 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

It was a brief stint back in the playing squad, with Barton banned for six matches, with a further suspended six-match ban, for his assault on Dabo.<ref name=2008ban>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7599647.stm |title=Banned Barton to miss six matches |date=5 September 2008 |access-date=5 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> After serving his ban, he played 75&nbsp;minutes in a reserve match and said he wanted to transform his image to become a role model,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7683293.stm |title=Barton could make return in derby |date=21 October 2008 |access-date=5 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7685293.stm |title=I want to be role model – Barton |date=23 October 2008 |access-date=5 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> before he returned to action in the [[Tyne–Wear derby]] on 25 October. He was booed by Sunderland fans and had missiles thrown at him as he warmed up, as Newcastle lost 2–1.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7674086.stm |title=Sunderland 2–1 Newcastle |date=25 October 2008 |access-date=5 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport |first=Owen |last=Phillips}}</ref> Without him, Newcastle had not recorded a league victory since the second match of the season, but Barton scored a penalty in his second match back to lift the club out of the relegation zone.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7683885.stm |title=Newcastle 2–1 West Brom |date=28 October 2008 |access-date=5 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport |first=Phil |last=McNulty}}</ref> The suspended six-match ban was nearly brought into action when Barton appeared to flick [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] striker [[Gabriel Agbonlahor]] in the club's next match, but the FA decided not to punish Barton.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7684775.stm |title=Newcastle 2–0 Aston Villa |date=3 November 2008 |access-date=5 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7707627.stm |title=FA decides not to punish Barton |date=4 November 2008 |access-date=5 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> However, further allegations that Barton had made a racist remark to Agbonlahor were cause enough for the FA to reconsider this decision.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/nov/05/newcastleunited-astonvilla |title=Villa consider racism complaint against Barton |date=5 November 2008 |access-date=12 November 2010 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Ian |last=Edwards}}</ref> The remarks remain unfounded and 'professional lip-readers' claimed he said nothing racist.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/3387757/Joey-Barton-inquiry-over-Aston-Villa-racism-comments-closed-by-Football-Association-Football.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/3387757/Joey-Barton-inquiry-over-Aston-Villa-racism-comments-closed-by-Football-Association-Football.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Joey Barton inquiry over Aston Villa 'racism' comments closed by Football Association |date=5 November 2008 |access-date=12 November 2010 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first1=Henry |last1=Winter |first2=Sandy |last2=MacAskill}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In Newcastle's 2–2 draw with Wigan on 15 November 2008, Barton was injured after a tackle from [[Lee Cattermole]]. It was later confirmed that Barton would be out for two months with a medial ligament injury.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7733109.stm |title=Barton ruled out for two months |date=17 November 2008 |access-date=17 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Returning to the first team at the end of January, he played only twice before again breaking his metatarsal, during a 2–1 defeat to his old club Manchester City.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/4378941/Joey-Bartons-season-in-ruins-as-Newcastle-wait-on-Michael-Owen-verdict.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/4378941/Joey-Bartons-season-in-ruins-as-Newcastle-wait-on-Michael-Owen-verdict.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Joey Barton's season in ruins as Newcastle wait on Michael Owen verdict |date=29 January 2009 |access-date=14 November 2010 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Rob |last=Stewart}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Joey Barton corner.jpg|thumb|left|Barton playing for Newcastle United in 2010]]

In his first appearance in over three months on 3 May 2009, Barton was sent off late in a 3–0 loss to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] at [[Anfield]] for a sliding challenge on [[Xabi Alonso]]. The red card ruled Barton out of Newcastle's remaining three matches of the season, with the club in danger of relegation from the Premier League. Newcastle manager [[Alan Shearer]] raised doubts about Barton's future at the club, saying: "I think it would be wrong to discuss his future now, but I'm not very happy."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/8031815.stm |title=Barton 'stupidity' riles Shearer |work=BBC Sport |date=3 May 2009 |access-date=3 May 2009}}</ref> On 5 May, Newcastle United announced the suspension of Barton indefinitely, and Barton was told to stay away from the club. As a result, Barton's future at Newcastle United was put in doubt.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/8033495.stm |title=Barton hit by Magpies suspension |work=BBC Sport |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009}}</ref> The club suspension was widely reportedly to have resulted not directly from the red card, but from a dressing room confrontation with Shearer and assistant manager [[Iain Dowie]] following the match. Shearer said he made a mistake putting Barton back into the team, and that his tackle was "a coward's tackle", to which Barton replied that he was "the best player at the club", and Shearer had to play him. Shearer said that Barton was not, and that he was "shit".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/05/05/1247140/report-joey-barton-blasts-newcastle-united-manager-alan-shearer |title=Joey Barton Blasts Newcastle United Manager Alan Shearer |publisher=Goal.com |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009}}</ref> Barton replied that Shearer was "a shit manager with shit tactics". When Dowie intervened, Barton called him "a prick".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/06/joey-barton-alan-shearer-newcastle-united |title=Barton hopes to patch things up with Shearer |newspaper=The Guardian |date=6 May 2009 |access-date=10 May 2009 |location=London |first=Louise |last=Taylor}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barton-on-way-out-of-newcastle-1679652.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barton-on-way-out-of-newcastle-1679652.html |archive-date=9 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Barton on way out of Newcastle |newspaper=The Independent |date=6 May 2009 |access-date=6 May 2009 |location=London |first=Michael |last=Walker}}</ref>

[[File:Joey_Barton_with_fan.jpg|thumb|right|Joey Barton poses with a Newcastle United supporter at [[St James' Park]] prior to the [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] match in April 2010.]]

Barton stayed on with Newcastle United after they were relegated to the [[EFL Championship|Championship]], playing six out of Newcastle's opening eight league matches, but suffered an injury to his foot in a 3–1 win against [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]] on 19 September.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2557/news/2010/03/16/1835776/newcastle-united-midfielder-joey-barton-steps-up-his |publisher=Goal.com |title=Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton steps up his comeback from injury |date=16 March 2010}}</ref> He returned in April for Newcastle, playing all nine of Newcastle's remaining league fixtures and scoring his only goal of the campaign from a free kick in a win over [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8572945.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Doncaster 0–1 Newcastle |date=23 March 2010}}</ref>

Barton started his new club season 2010–11 as a first-team regular, playing against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on the opening day.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} On 10 November, in a 2–1 defeat to Blackburn, Barton again acted violently, punching [[Morten Gamst Pedersen]] in the chest. He was not punished during the match as the officials did not see the incident, but after reviewing the evidence,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9178056.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Referee to review Joey Barton 'punch' on Pedersen |date=11 November 2010}}</ref> the FA again charged Barton with violent conduct.<ref name=bbcsport/> Barton apologised, accepted the charge, and was banned for three matches.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/9181426.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Banned Joey Barton 'sorry' for Pedersen punch |date=11 November 2010}}</ref> Barton courted controversy once again during Newcastle's 3–1 win over Liverpool on 11 December 2010, when he appeared to direct homophobic remarks and a lewd gesture at [[Fernando Torres]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/8197843/Newcastle-United-midfielder-Joey-Barton-could-face-FA-punishment-over-obscene-gesture-to-Fernando-Torres.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/8197843/Newcastle-United-midfielder-Joey-Barton-could-face-FA-punishment-over-obscene-gesture-to-Fernando-Torres.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton could face FA punishment over 'obscene gesture' to Fernando Torres |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=12 December 2010 |access-date=23 September 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Barton scored two penalties against Arsenal on 5 February 2011 as Newcastle came from a 4–0 deficit to draw 4–4. He was involved in an altercation with [[Abou Diaby]], which led to a straight red card for Diaby. Diaby took offence to Barton's strong challenge and retaliated by grabbing Barton by the neck and shoving him to the ground.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1011/post/first-team/newcastle-united-4-4-arsenal-match-report |title=Newcastle United 4–4 Arsenal – Match Report |date=5 February 2011 |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |access-date=26 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Match/Report/0,,10278~2286076,00.html |title=Newcastle United &#124; Newcastle United 4 Arsenal 4 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |access-date=24 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317104232/http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Match/Report/0%2C%2C10278~2286076%2C00.html |archive-date=17 March 2012 }}</ref>

On 25 May 2011, Barton's agent Willie McKay confirmed that his client would not be signing a new contract at [[St James' Park]] after contract talks broke down between the club and player.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13546072.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Joey Barton set for Newcastle United departure |date=25 May 2011}}</ref> Barton was officially transfer listed by Newcastle on 1 August 2011, and it was also stated that he could leave for free with his current contract yet to expire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20110801/barton-placed-on-transfer-list_2281670_2407238 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |title=Barton Placed on Transfer List |date=1 August 2011 |access-date=2 August 2011}}</ref> Barton was set to leave Newcastle following his teammate Kevin Nolan, who had earlier joined West Ham United, but Barton insisted on not moving.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11678/6991026 |title=Barton doesn't want to leave |publisher=Sky Sports |date=15 June 2011 |access-date=26 February 2014}}</ref> Joey Barton also criticised the Newcastle board after it was decided he could leave the club on a free transfer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11678/7076222 |title=Barton criticises Toon board |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2 August 2011 |access-date=26 February 2014}}</ref> With Newcastle continuing to decline the offer of a new contract, after he refused an earlier offer, on 24 August 2011,<ref name =QPRmedical24082011>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton has medical ahead of proposed Queens Park Rangers move |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=24 August 2011 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/aug/24/joey-barton-qpr-newcastle-transfer |access-date=27 August 2011 |first=Louise |last=Taylor}}</ref> Barton was given permission to talk to QPR. Thanking the Newcastle fans, he left on 26 August 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton thanks NUFC fans after joining QPR |newspaper=Hartlepool Mail |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-utd/joey_barton_thanks_nufc_fans_after_joining_qpr_1_3720656 |access-date=27 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714105317/http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-utd/joey_barton_thanks_nufc_fans_after_joining_qpr_1_3720656 |archive-date=14 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A week before his signing with QPR, Barton was involved in an altercation with [[Gervinho]] of Arsenal, which resulted in Gervinho being sent off on his debut. Then, [[Alex Song]] stamped on Barton, for which Song received a three-match ban. Barton later said he was on the verge of joining Arsenal but his incident with Gervinho ended his hopes of a move to the Emirates, and instead he joined [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=Press Association |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/sep/21/joey-barton-gervinho-arsenal |title=Joey Barton claims Gervinho incident scuppered hope of move to Arsenal |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=21 September 2011 |access-date=24 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Silva |first=Michael Da |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15008071.stm |title=Joey Barton claims Gervinho incident stopped Arsenal move |work=BBC Sport |date=21 September 2011 |access-date=24 October 2011}}</ref>

===Queens Park Rangers===
On 26 August 2011, Barton moved to Queens Park Rangers, signing a four-year contract on a free transfer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton joins QPR from Newcastle United |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14650167.stm |work=BBC Sport |access-date=26 August 2011 |date=26 August 2011}}</ref> He was handed the captain's armband by manager [[Neil Warnock]] on his debut with the club, which was a 0–0 draw with former club Newcastle.<ref>{{cite news |title=QPR 0–0 Newcastle |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14799558.stm |work=BBC Sport |first=Alistair |last=Magowan |date=12 September 2011 |access-date=21 September 2011}}</ref> On 17 September, he scored his first goal for QPR during a 3–0 win against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Wolverhampton 0–3 QPR |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14864037.stm |work=BBC Sport |first=Andy |last=Sokill |date=17 September 2011 |access-date=21 September 2011}}</ref> Following his goal, Barton was involved in a physical confrontation with Wolves player [[Karl Henry]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/sep/17/joey-barton-karl-henry-twitter |title=Joey Barton hits back at Karl Henry on Twitter after QPR win |newspaper=The Observer |date=17 September 2011 |access-date=24 October 2011 |location=London}}</ref> Barton and Henry had a previous physical confrontation in August 2010 when Barton was still at Newcastle.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11699/7171635 |title=Henry ready for Barton rematch |publisher=Sky Sports |date=12 September 2011 |access-date=26 February 2014}}</ref> Barton accused Henry of "trying to hurt people".<ref>{{cite news |agency=Press Association |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/sep/18/joey-barton-criticises-karl-henry |title=QPR's Joey Barton claims Karl Henry of Wolves 'tries to hurt people' |newspaper=The Guardian |date=18 September 2011 |access-date=24 October 2011 |location=London}}</ref> Henry responded by calling Barton's behaviour "embarrassing".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/sep/19/karl-henry-joey-barton |location=London |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Ian |last=McCourt |title=Karl Henry says Joey Barton is 'embarrassing' after recent comments |date=19 September 2011}}</ref>

On 2 January 2012, Barton scored the opening goal in QPR's match against [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]], his second for the club.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} He was later given a straight red card after head-butting Norwich midfielder [[Bradley Johnson]].{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} With QPR down to ten men they went on to lose the match 2–1.<ref>{{cite news |title=QPR 1–2 Norwich |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/16331299.stm |work=BBC Sport |access-date=2 January 2012 |date=2 January 2012}}</ref> When Warnock was replaced as manager by [[Mark Hughes]] in January 2012, Hughes confirmed that Barton would remain captain.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton will remain QPR captain, says new manager Mark Hughes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jan/11/joey-barton-qpr-mark-hughes |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=14 May 2012 |date=11 January 2012}}</ref> Barton's performance in QPR's 3–2 home victory against Liverpool saw him booed by QPR fans, who promptly cheered when he was substituted just after the hour mark.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton disappointed at being booed by QPR supporters |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17474218 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=14 May 2012 |date=22 March 2012}}</ref> Barton admitted that his performance was "awful" and the "worst I've ever played in my career" but also criticised the QPR fans for not sticking with the team in their battle against relegation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton criticises Queens Park Rangers fans for booing him |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/mar/22/joey-barton-qpr-liverpool |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=14 May 2012 |date=22 March 2012}}</ref> Barton's third goal for the club came in a 3–0 victory at home to [[Swansea A.F.C.|Swansea]] on 11 April 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=QPR 3–0 Swansea |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17606949 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=14 May 2012 |date=11 April 2012}}</ref>

On 13 May, on the final day of the season, with QPR requiring at least a draw in their [[Manchester City F.C. 3–2 Queens Park Rangers F.C.|match]] away at Manchester City or for Bolton Wanderers to not win in order to guarantee Premier League safety, Barton was sent off in the 55th minute for violent misconduct after elbowing [[Carlos Tevez]] in the face. Immediately after being shown a red card, he kicked [[Sergio Agüero]] in the back of the knee and attempted to head-butt [[Vincent Kompany]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Man City 3–2 QPR |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17973148 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester City v QPR – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/13/manchester-city-qpr-live-premier-league?intcmp=122 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=13 May 2012 |access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> Barton had to be dragged from the pitch by former teammate [[Micah Richards]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18054142 |title=Joey Barton facing lengthy ban after red card in QPR defeat |newspaper=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=27 February 2014}}</ref> as he rowed with Manchester City players and staff and attempted to square-off with striker [[Mario Balotelli]].<ref name=MCQPR/> QPR went on to concede two late goals and lose the match 3–2, but avoided relegation due to Bolton's draw at [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]. Barton commented after the match saying that he was trying to "take [one] of their players with me."<ref name=MCQPR>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton faces long ban after being sent off for violent conduct |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/13/joey-barton-sent-off |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=13 May 2012 |access-date=14 May 2012}}</ref> The FA responded by issuing two charges of violent conduct against him, for the kick and the attempted head-butt, the initial foul already carrying with it a charge of violent conduct.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barton charged |url=http://www.thefa.com/News/governance/2012/may/joey-barton-qpr-man-city-violent-conduct |publisher=The Football Association |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=26 February 2014}}</ref> Barton accepted the charge for kicking Agüero but denied the charge for attempting to head-butt Kompany. QPR also began an internal investigation into his behaviour,<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton accepts one charge, denies another, as QPR start investigation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/16/joey-barton-violent-conduct-charge |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=16 May 2012 |access-date=19 May 2012}}</ref> amid speculation that he would be stripped of the captaincy, fined and possibly either sold, released on a free transfer or have his contract terminated for gross misconduct.<ref>{{cite news |title=Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes ready to kick captain Joey Barton out of Loftus Road |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/9265556/Queens-Park-Rangers-manager-Mark-Hughes-ready-to-kick-captain-Joey-Barton-out-of-Loftus-Road.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/9265556/Queens-Park-Rangers-manager-Mark-Hughes-ready-to-kick-captain-Joey-Barton-out-of-Loftus-Road.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=19 May 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 23 May, Barton attended an FA hearing. Punishing him for all three counts of violent conduct, Barton was handed a twelve-match ban and fined £75,000.<ref name=telegraph/> On 25 June, QPR announced the results of their internal investigation. Barton was stripped of the captaincy and fined six weeks' wages, believed to have been around £500,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton fined six weeks' wages and stripped of QPR captaincy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jun/25/joey-barton-fined-wages-stripped-captaincy |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=25 June 2012 |access-date=28 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="asia.eurosport.com story">{{cite news |title=Barton fined £500,000, loses captaincy |url=http://asia.eurosport.com/football/premier-league/2011-2012/barton-fined-500000_sto3324719/story.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628021155/http://asia.eurosport.com/football/premier-league/2011-2012/barton-fined-500000_sto3324719/story.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2012 |publisher=Euro Sport |date=25 June 2012 |access-date=28 June 2012}}</ref> Barton was also removed from the club's pre-season tour of Asia, and in a statement the club said that they had "also reached agreement with Barton that if he seriously breaches the club's disciplinary procedures again, the club reserves the right to terminate his contract". Barton responded by saying that "My behaviour was wrong and I accept the punishment that has been imposed upon me as a result."<ref>{{cite news |title=Club statement – Joey Barton |url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2818728,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802083023/http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10373~2818728%2C00.html |archive-date=2 August 2012 |publisher=Queens Park Rangers F.C. |date=25 June 2012 |access-date=28 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 31 July 2012, Barton played 45 minutes of a friendly match for [[EFL League Two|League Two]] team [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]] in the club's 4–0 win over [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]]. He had been training with Fleetwood after being left out of Queens Park Rangers' tour of Malaysia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19076527 |title=Joey Barton plays 45 minutes of Fleetwood Town friendly |work=BBC Sport |date=1 August 2012}}</ref> Fleetwood attempted to sign Barton on a six-month loan, but the deal was turned down by QPR.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19118854 |title=Joey Barton's Fleetwood Town move from QPR collapses |work=BBC Sport |date=11 August 2012 |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref>

Ahead of the [[2012–13 Premier League]] season, Barton was not given a squad number by QPR.<ref>{{cite news |title=Numbers up! |url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/160812-squad-numbers-315679.aspx?pageView=full#anchored |publisher=Queens Park Rangers F.C. |date=16 August 2012 |access-date=16 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703230559/http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/160812-squad-numbers-315679.aspx?pageView=full#anchored |archive-date=3 July 2015 }}</ref> Towards the end of the season, chairman [[Tony Fernandes]] identified the loss of Barton as a factor in the club's poor performance and relegation from the Premier League, saying: "We missed Joey. We needed a workhorse midfielder and we tried to get [[Scott Parker]]. We missed a real leader."<ref>{{cite news |title=I was exploited, claims Tony Fernandes after year of regrets |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/03/tony-fernandes-qpr-relegation |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=3 May 2013 |access-date=8 May 2013}}</ref>

====Loan to Marseille====
Barton completed a season-long loan move to [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] on 31 August 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/310812-barton-loan-345833.aspx |title=Barton joins Marseille |publisher=Queens Park Rangers F.C. |access-date=31 August 2012}}</ref> In September, the LFP confirmed that Barton's twelve-match ban would be upheld in French football, restricting Barton to [[UEFA Europa League]] football for the first four months of the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/lfp-enforce-barton-ban.htm |title=LFP enforce Barton ban |publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel |date=7 September 2012}}</ref> On 20 September, Barton made his debut for the club in an away trip to [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]] in a UEFA Europa League tie, a match that ended 2–2.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ayew earns Marseille a point |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=355743&cc=5901 |work=ESPN FC |date=20 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102204024/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=355743&cc=5901 |archive-date=2 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Barton scored his first goal for Marseille on 8 November in the 2–2 draw with [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]] in Germany, netting directly from a corner kick in the 54th minute.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0203-0ea4edea2454-759d9451ff5c-1000--arango-earns-gladbach-late-point-at-marseille/ |title=Arango earns Gladbach late point at Marseille |publisher=UEFA |date=8 November 2012}}</ref>

Barton told [[ESPN]] that he would not return to Queens Park Rangers after the loan spell, and he also said that he only joined the club for money because his partner was expecting a child.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barton: I joined QPR for the money |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/1239795/joey-barton-reveals-he-joined-qpr-for-the-money?src=com |publisher=ESPN |date=25 November 2012 |access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref> Following the comments, on 25 November 2012, he made his league debut in a 1–0 home win against [[Lille OSC|Lille]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Jordan keeps on PSG's heels |url=http://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/jordan-keeps-om-on-psg-s-heels.htm |publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel |date=25 November 2012 |access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref> In his third league appearance on 2 December, Barton provided the assists for both [[Souleymane Diawara]]'s and [[André Ayew]]'s goals as Marseille defeated [[Stade Brestois 29|Brest]] 2–1 to remain two points behind leaders [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Barton inspires l'OM to battling win |url=http://espnfc.com/en/report/342811/report.html?soccernet=true&cc= |work=ESPN FC |date=2 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209114702/http://espnfc.com/en/report/342811/report.html?soccernet=true&cc= |archive-date=9 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 6 May 2013, Barton was given a two-match suspended ban for describing [[Thiago Silva]] of [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] on [[Twitter]] as looking like an "overweight ladyboy".<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton given suspended two-match ban for 'ladyboy' jibe |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22427635 |work=BBC Sport |date=6 May 2013 |access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> Laurent Davenas, the President of the [[French Football Federation]]'s National Council of Ethics said<ref>{{cite news |title=Barton escapes further ban for 'overweight ladyboy' comments |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2013/may/07/barton-overweight-ladyboy-comments-video |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=8 May 2013}}</ref> that Barton was punished only for making "inappropriate" remarks, and escaped a more severe punishment because his lawyers proved his lack of homophobic intent by showing the committee Barton's appearance in the [[BBC Three]] documentary on [[Homosexuality in association football|homophobia in football]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/ligue1/story/joey-barton-gets-two-game-suspended-ban-for-twitter-insults-050613 |title=Barton gets suspended ban for insults |work=Fox Sports |date=6 May 2013 |access-date=12 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720141305/http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/ligue1/story/joey-barton-gets-two-game-suspended-ban-for-twitter-insults-050613 |archive-date=20 July 2013 }}</ref>

====Return to Queens Park Rangers====
[[File:JoeyBartonMay2015.JPG|thumb|upright|Barton playing for [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] in 2015]]

Barton returned to QPR for the [[2013–14 Football League Championship|2013–14 Championship]] season,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Les |date=1 September 2013 |title=Joey Barton emerging as Queens Park Rangers' main man |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/10279152/Joey-Barton-emerging-as-Queens-Park-Rangers-main-man.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/10279152/Joey-Barton-emerging-as-Queens-Park-Rangers-main-man.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=4 January 2021 |website=The Daily Telegraph |language=en-GB}}{{cbignore}}</ref> despite posting a series of tweets on 9 April 2013 affirming he would not play for the club again.<ref>{{cite news |title='Despite saying he wouldn't play in the Championship, Barton starts for QPR |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/despite-saying-he-wouldnt-play-in-the-championship-barton-starts-for-qpr |work=NBC Sports |date=4 August 2013 |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref> During a match at [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] in October, a plastic bottle thrown from the stands hit Barton on the head.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk/news/burnley/10767973.Police_hunt_Barton_bottle_thrower_fan_at_Turf_Moor/ |title=Police hunt Barton bottle thrower fan at Turf Moor |first=Matt |last=Donlan |newspaper=Burnley Citizen |date=28 October 2013 |access-date=1 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105012100/http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk/news/burnley/10767973.Police_hunt_Barton_bottle_thrower_fan_at_Turf_Moor/ |archive-date=5 November 2014}}</ref> He was sent off in QPR's 1–0 home defeat to [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] on 21 December 2013, receiving two yellow cards in quick succession for fouling and then throwing the ball in dissent at [[Gary Taylor-Fletcher]].<ref>{{cite news |title=QPR 0–1 Leicester |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25375962 |work=BBC Sport |date=21 December 2013 |access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref> He started for QPR as they beat [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] 1–0 in the [[2014 Football League Championship play-off final|2014 Championship play-off final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]] on 24 May, a result that saw the club promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt.<ref name=2014POF>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27452294 |title=Derby County 0–1 Queens Park Rangers |first=Paul |last=Fletcher |work=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2014 |access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref>

On 21 February 2015, Barton received the ninth red card of his career in the 32nd minute of a match against [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] after swinging at [[Tom Huddlestone]]'s groin following a foul by Darnell Furlong.<ref>{{cite news |title='Gutted' QPR skipper Joey Barton apologises for red card |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31570270 |work=BBC Sport |date=21 February 2015 |access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref> Chris Ramsey suggested that Barton, who would miss the club's next three home matches as a result, would return to anger management therapy following the incident.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/11428444/QPR-captain-Joey-Barton-could-seek-therapy-after-red-card-in-Hull-City-defeat-admits-manager-Chris-Ramsey.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/11428444/QPR-captain-Joey-Barton-could-seek-therapy-after-red-card-in-Hull-City-defeat-admits-manager-Chris-Ramsey.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=QPR captain Joey Barton could seek therapy after red card in Hull City defeat admits manager Chris Ramsey |first=Jon |last=Culley |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=22 February 2015 |access-date=26 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In May 2015, Queens Park Rangers announced the release of Barton in the summer of 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32904955 |title=Rio Ferdinand and Joey Barton among six to leave QPR |newspaper=BBC Sport |access-date=27 May 2015|date=27 May 2015 }}</ref>

On 10 August 2015, following his release from Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United were reportedly confident of signing Barton.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33852058 |title=Joey Barton: West Ham set to sign former QPR captain |first=Ben |last=Smith |newspaper=BBC Sport |access-date=12 August 2015|date=10 August 2015 }}</ref> Two days later, their co-chairman [[David Gold (businessman)|David Gold]] confirmed that the deal was off after reported protests from some fans unhappy at the prospect of Barton turning out for the Hammers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33878407 |title=Joey Barton: West Ham move off, says midfielder |newspaper=BBC Sport |access-date=12 August 2015|date=12 August 2015 }}</ref>

===Burnley===
{{expand section|date=August 2022}}
On 27 August 2015, Barton joined Championship club Burnley on a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34077187 |title=Joey Barton: Burnley sign ex-QPR midfielder |work=BBC Sport |date=27 August 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015}}</ref> He was named in the Championship [[PFA Team of the Year]] for the [[2015–16 Burnley F.C. season|2015–16 season]].<ref name=PFA>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36106596 |title=PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team |work=BBC Sport |date=21 April 2016 |access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref>

===Rangers===
{{expand section|date=August 2022}}
On 24 May 2016, Barton joined [[Scottish Premiership]] club [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36360594 |title=Joey Barton signs for Rangers on two-year deal |work=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2016 |access-date=24 May 2016}}</ref> He made his first appearance for the club as a substitute in Rangers' 2–0 victory over [[Annan Athletic F.C.|Annan Athletic]] in the [[Scottish League Cup]] on 19 July.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36841671 |title=Rangers 2–0 Annan Athletic |work=BBC Sport |date=19 July 2016}}</ref> In September 2016, Barton was suspended by Rangers for three weeks following a training ground argument with [[Andy Halliday]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37407907 |title=Joey Barton: Rangers ban midfielder for three weeks after row |date=19 September 2016 |newspaper=BBC Sport |access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref> On 10 November 2016, Barton had his contract at Rangers terminated with immediate effect.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37940954 |title=Joey Barton & Rangers agree to terminate midfielder's contract |newspaper=BBC Sport |date=10 November 2016 |access-date=10 November 2016}}</ref>

===Return to Burnley===
On 2 January 2017, despite the threat of an FA ban, Barton re-joined Burnley; he made his second debut for the club in a goalless draw with Sunderland in the [[2016-17 FA Cup#Third round proper|FA Cup third round]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38491882 |title=Joey Barton re-joins Burnley despite betting ban threat |work=BBC Sport |date=2 January 2017 |access-date=2 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38474794 |title=Sunderland 0–0 Burnley |work=BBC Sport |date=7 January 2017 |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref> Barton made his league return on 14 January, coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute and scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win over Southampton five minutes later.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38539372 |title=Burnley's Barton nets winner against Saints |first=Saj |last=Chowdhury |work=BBC Sport |date=14 January 2017 |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref> On 26 April Barton was banned from football for 18 months after admitting a Football Association charge in relation to betting.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39720232 |title=Joey Barton: Burnley midfielder banned for 18 months over betting |date=26 April 2017 |access-date=5 August 2018 |work=BBC Sport }}</ref>
Barton was released by Burnley on 23 May 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40019100 |title=Joey Barton: Banned midfielder released by Burnley |date=23 May 2017 |access-date=5 August 2018 |work=BBC Sport }}</ref>
On 27 July 2017, Barton had his ban reduced by almost five months on appeal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/joey-barton-burnley-betting-gambling-ban-reduced-football-association-a7864111.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/joey-barton-burnley-betting-gambling-ban-reduced-football-association-a7864111.html |archive-date=9 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Barton has betting ban reduced by five months |website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |access-date=5 August 2018|date=28 July 2017 }}</ref>

==International career==
Barton represented the England under-21 team and was part of the squad for their 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Macedonia and Portugal, scoring once against Portugal.<ref name="Platt sings Barton's praise"/>

Following impressive form at club level, Barton received his first call-up to the full [[England national football team|England]] squad on 2 February 2007 for a friendly match against [[Spain national football team|Spain]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6319849.stm |date=2 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Barton wins first England call-up |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> despite his recent criticism of certain members of the England squad for releasing autobiographies after an unimpressive [[2006 FIFA World Cup]]. He had suggested such players had "cashed in" on the national team's lack of success.<ref name="Gerrard jumps to Barton's defence">{{cite news |url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article2241394.ece |date=6 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Gerrard jumps to Barton's defence |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |first=Sam |last=Wallace |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181615/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article2241394.ece |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>

Barton later received support over his comments and [[Steven Gerrard]], one of the players whom Barton had criticised, praised him for his honesty.<ref name="Barton books in"/><ref name="Gerrard jumps to Barton's defence"/> However, [[Frank Lampard]], who had also released an autobiography following the tournament, publicly stated his disapproval.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6281871.stm |date=20 January 2007 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Lampard hits back at Barton jibes |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Barton made his international debut on 7 February 2007, replacing Lampard in the 78th minute of the 1–0 defeat to Spain at [[Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6330177.stm |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=England 0–1 Spain |last=Sinnott |first=John |work=BBC Sport |date=7 February 2007}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Early in his career, Barton mainly played a defensive role,<ref name="The Opta Audit: Joey Barton">{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/66/66583_barton_gets_england_call.html |access-date=5 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184218/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/66/66583_barton_gets_england_call.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 |title=Barton gets England call |date=23 July 2007 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News}}</ref> with a game based on tackling and tracking back to shield the defence.<ref name="Gilberto v Joey Barton">{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=the+match&article=412210&lid=fixture_298346&Title=Head+to+head:+Gilberto+v+Joey+Barton |access-date=10 July 2007 |title=Head to head: Gilberto v Joey Barton |first=Mo |last=Khan |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181659/http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=the+match&article=412210&lid=fixture_298346&Title=Head+to+head%3A+Gilberto+v+Joey+Barton |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As his career has progressed, he has begun to incorporate a more attacking approach to his play, which has resulted in a greater number of goals and assists, and his six goals from midfield made him Manchester City's leading scorer in the 2006–07 season, ahead of strikers [[Georgios Samaras]], [[Bernardo Corradi]], [[Émile Mpenza]] and [[Darius Vassell]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/6445093.stm | title=Where it went wrong for Pearce | first=Paul |last=Fletcher | work=BBC Sport | date=15 May 2007}}</ref>

Barton has been described as having a good work ethic and the ability to carry the ball and retain possession for the team.<ref name="Gilberto v Joey Barton"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2312280/Talent-overshadowed-by-temper.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2312280/Talent-overshadowed-by-temper.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=26 February 2014 |title=Talent overshadowed by temper |first=Ian |last=Whittell |date=23 May 2007 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He has been praised for having a good passing range.<ref name="Barton books in"/> This aspect of his game has shown improvement since the [[2005–06 Manchester City F.C. season|2005–06 season]], when he began to favour simpler passes over more ambitious ones,<ref name=forengland/> and his relatively high pass completion rate can be attributed to this change.<ref name="Gilberto v Joey Barton"/> Barton's passes have often proved to be crucial; in the past he has led the way in his team's [[Assist (football)|assists]].<ref name="City would miss Barton - Opta">{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11679_2343043,00.html |access-date=13 July 2007 |title=City would miss Barton – Opta |date=26 July 2005 |first=Paul |last=Townley |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref>

Barton has been described as the dirtiest player in the Premier League,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/s/211/211133_stu_braced_for_barton_bids.html |access-date=13 July 2007 |title=Stu braced for Barton bids |date=20 April 2006 |first=Mike |last=Whalley |newspaper=Manchester Evening News}}</ref> a style reflected in the high number of fouls he has committed during his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=ESPNsoccernet Profile |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=27050&cc=5739 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714042042/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=27050&cc=5739 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2012 |work=ESPN Soccernet |access-date=13 July 2007 }}</ref> He received 39 [[Foul (association football)|bookings]] and three red cards during his time at Manchester City.<ref>[https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=34138 "Joey Barton"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922063739/http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=34138 |date=22 September 2008 }}. Soccerbase. ''Racing Post''. Retrieved 10 July 2007.</ref> This physical approach was occasionally criticised by Kevin Keegan as excessive.<ref name="Keegan fury at Barton"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keegan-backs-barton-to-shine-1140258 |title=Keegan backs Barton to shine |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |access-date=26 February 2014}}</ref>

==Managerial career==
===Fleetwood Town===
[[EFL League One|League One]] club [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]] announced in April 2018 that Barton would take over as manager on 2 June, after the expiration of his ban.<ref name=FleetwoodIn>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43814308 |title=Joey Barton: Fleetwood Town announce ex-Burnley midfielder as head coach |work=BBC Sport |date=18 April 2018 |access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> He retired from playing upon taking over.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44355310 |title=Joey Barton: Fleetwood's new head coach reveals Sean Dyche influence |work=BBC Sport |date=4 June 2018 |access-date=5 June 2018}}</ref> His managerial career started with a 1–0 home defeat by [[AFC Wimbledon]] on 4 August 2018.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44989241 | title=Fleetwood Town 0-1 AFC Wimbledon| newspaper=BBC Sport| date=4 August 2018}}</ref>

On 13 April 2019, following a 4–2 away defeat to [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], [[South Yorkshire Police]] launched an investigation after Barton allegedly assaulted opposition manager [[Daniel Stendel]] in the tunnel.<ref name="auto9">{{cite news |title=Joey Barton: Police investigate incident allegedly involving Fleetwood manager after Barnsley match |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47922726 |access-date=14 April 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=14 April 2019}}</ref> In July 2019, Barton was charged with causing actual bodily harm and bailed until 9 October 2019.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49013849|title=Joey Barton: Fleetwood Town manager charged with actual bodily harm|date=17 July 2019|access-date=17 July 2019|work=BBC Sport }}</ref> He pleaded not guilty.<ref name="auto8">{{Cite web |date=9 October 2019 |title=Joey Barton: Fleetwood Town manager pleads not guilty to actual bodily harm |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49986559 |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> Two days later he won the Manager of the Month award.<ref name="Sep19 MOTM">{{Cite web |date=11 October 2019 |title=Joey Barton wins September's League One manager of the month award |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50011983 |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 6 November 2019, Barton appeared at [[Sheffield Crown Court]], pleading not guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. A provisional trial date was set for 1 June 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 November 2019 |title=Joey Barton: Fleetwood Town manager to go on trial accused of assaulting Daniel Stendel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50315993 |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 4 January 2021, the club announced that Barton had left with immediate effect. He left the club with the side 10th in League One.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2021 |title=Joey Barton: Fleetwood Town boss leaves League One club with immediate effect |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55534954 |access-date=4 January 2021 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 6 December 2021, Barton was cleared of assaulting Stendel.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-59513011|title=Joey Barton cleared of assaulting Daniel Stendel in stadium tunnel|work=BBC News |date=6 December 2021}}</ref>

===Bristol Rovers===
On 22 February 2021, Barton was appointed manager of [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]] with the club in a relegation battle, sitting just two points outside of the relegation zone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2021/february/club-statement-manager/|title=Joey Barton Announced as Bristol Rovers Manager|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=22 February 2021|access-date=22 February 2021|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517104501/https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2021/february/club-statement-manager/|url-status=dead}}</ref> His first match was a relegation ''six-pointer'' against [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] that saw Rovers fall to a 2–1 defeat in the final minute of second-half stoppage time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56079501|title=Bristol Rovers 1–2 Wigan Athletic|publisher=BBC Sport|date=23 February 2021}}</ref> Barton was unable to reverse his side's slip down the table and on 24 April, they were officially relegated following a 1–0 defeat at [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] that saw the club sitting bottom of the league, nine points off of safety with just two matches remaining.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56781897|title=Portsmouth 1–0 Bristol Rovers: Pirates relegated to League Two|publisher=BBC Sport|date=24 April 2021}}</ref> Relegation had been all but confirmed the previous match, with Barton again publicly criticising his players in the media, as well as the two managers before him, saying that his team were going down 'with a whimper'.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56827410|title=Bristol Rovers: Joey Barton says his side are facing relegation 'with a whimper'|work=BBC Sport|date=21 April 2021|access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref>

On 2 October 2021, Barton's Rovers suffered a 3–1 home defeat to a [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] side managed by [[Ben Garner]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58687946|title=Bristol Rovers 1–3 Swindon Town|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 October 2021}}</ref> This came after Barton had repeatedly criticised his predecessor, calling him "negligent" before repeating to have a number of digs at his opposing manager in the pre-match press conference, saying that he was willing to "spare 15-20 minutes for him after the game" to discuss the finer points of management.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/19620044.joey-barton-repeats-criticism-swindon-town-head-coach-ben-garner/|title=Joey Barton repeats criticism of Swindon Town head coach Ben Garner|publisher=Swindon Advertiser|date=1 October 2021|access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref> Later in October 2021, Barton was criticised by several anti-Semitism campaigners when he compared his team's poor performance in a 3–1 defeat to [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]] to a holocaust. In a post-match interview, Barton had said, "Someone gets in for a game, does well but then has a Holocaust, a nightmare, an absolute disaster".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-59037474|title=Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton 'should consider future' after Holocaust analogy|work=BBC News |date=25 October 2021}}</ref> Barton apologised for his comments the following week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59077231|title=Joey Barton: Bristol Rovers manager apologises for Holocaust analogy|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 October 2021}}</ref> 

Barton was nominated for the [[EFL League Two Manager of the Month]] award for January 2022 after picking up ten points from four matches across the month, ultimately missing out to [[Rob Edwards (footballer, born 1982)|Rob Edwards]] of [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2022/february/sky-bet-league-two-manager-of-the-month-january-nominations/|title=Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month: January nominations|website=www.efl.com|date=8 February 2022|accessdate=20 February 2022}}</ref> Impressive form in 2022 saw Bristol Rovers rise up the table and following a 1–0 home victory over [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] on 15 March, Rovers found themselves in the play-off positions for the first time in the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60656953|title=Bristol Rovers 1–0 Colchester United|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 March 2022|accessdate=16 March 2022}}</ref> Barton was named League Two Manager of the Month for March 2022 after leading his side to five wins from seven matches whilst conceding just three goals and pushing for a promotion place.<ref name="Mar22 MOTM">{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2022/april/barton-wins-march-manager-of-the-month/|title=Joey Barton Named Sky Bet League Two 'Manager of the Month' For March!|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=8 April 2022}}</ref> The season finished in dramatic fashion with a 7–0 thrashing on the final day over [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] giving Rovers the five goal swing that they required in order to overtake [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]] and move into third place, sealing promotion on goals scored.<ref name="21/22 promotion"> {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61281127|title=Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win|work=BBC Sport|date=7 May 2022|accessdate=9 May 2022}}</ref> On 1 July 2022, Barton signed a new three-year contract extension.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2022/july/barton-signs-until-2026-010722/|title=Barton Signs Until 2026|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=1 July 2022|accessdate=1 July 2022}}</ref> 

On 26 October 2023, Barton was dismissed by the club following an indifferent start to the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2023/october/Club-statement-Joey-Barton/|title=Club Statement: Joey Barton|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=26 October 2023|accessdate=26 October 2023}}</ref> Club owner Hussain AlSaeed confirmed that the decision was for purely footballing reasons, the budget afforded to Barton not being representative of the league position of 16th after thirteen matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-rovers-owner-hussain-alsaeed-8865748|title=Bristol Rovers co-owner Hussain AlSaeed lifts lid on Joey Barton sacking and replacement plans|work=Bristol Post|last1=Hargraves|first1=Daniel|date=29 October 2023|accessdate=31 October 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Family===
Barton's brother Michael Barton was sentenced to life imprisonment (with a tariff of 17 years) for his involvement in the racially motivated [[murder of Anthony Walker]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cousins jailed for racist axe murder |url=https://www.theguardian.com/race/story/0,11374,1655341,00.html?gusrc=rss |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 December 2005 |access-date=5 June 2007 |location=London |first=Mark |last=Oliver}}</ref> Joey made a public appeal to his brother to come forward and help with the police investigation following the attack, and also made a series of calls to Michael, enquiring about his involvement in the incident.<ref name="Profile:Joey Barton"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Axe jury hears player's statement |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4459864.stm |work=BBC News |date=22 November 2005 |access-date=9 July 2007}}</ref>

Barton has four children with Georgia McNeil.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16343930.stm |title=QPR's Joey Barton names his first child Cassius Joseph |work=BBC Sport |access-date=29 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/joey-barton-wants-fleetwood-towns-players-to-keep-the-winning-habit-1013754 |title=Joey Barton wants Fleetwood Town's players to keep the winning habit |newspaper=Blackpool Gazette |date=16 July 2018 |orig-date=14 July 2018 |access-date=6 January 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/joey-barton-bristol-rovers-son-7521089.amp|title=It's a family affair for Joey Barton at Bristol Rovers as he reveals inspiration for son's name  |orig-date=29 Aug 2022 |access-date=6 January 2024  }}</ref> The couple married in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2998633/2021/12/10/joey-barton-the-enigma/ |title=Joey Barton, the enigma |work=The Athletic |date=9 December 2021 |access-date=6 January 2024 |type=opinion}}</ref>

===Charity===

Barton is a patron of the Tamsin Gulvin Fund, a charity set up to support people who have addiction problems and no financial support.<ref name="Adams sees Barton in England role">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4594584.stm |date=9 January 2006 |access-date=9 July 2007 |title=Adams sees Barton in England role |last=Austin |first=Simon |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> [[Tony Adams]], who had been impressed with Barton's attitude during his involvement in the Sporting Chance Clinic, appointed him to this role.<ref name="Adams sees Barton in England role"/> He is a part of the 'Get Hooked on Fishing' campaign, designed to keep children out of trouble by encouraging them to take up fishing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/display.var.1637161.0.newcastle_star_gets_hooked_on_fishing.php |date=22 August 2007 |access-date=23 August 2007 |title=Newcastle star gets hooked on fishing |last=King |first=Dan |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington}}</ref> He has also taken part in a celebrity [[cricket]] match for charity to help fund a new children's rehabilitation unit at a hospital in [[Manchester]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/ashes2006/display.var.1457280.0.football_stars_head_for_the_other_old_trafford.php |first=Sudlow |last=Chris |date=8 June 2007 |access-date=11 July 2007 |title=Football stars head for the other Old Trafford |newspaper=The Bolton News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928015920/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/ashes2006/display.var.1457280.0.football_stars_head_for_the_other_old_trafford.php |archive-date=28 September 2007 }}</ref> In 2011, he began writing a regular column in ''[[The Big Issue]]'', a [[street newspaper]] sold by the homeless and vulnerably housed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Revamped Big Issue hits the streets |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-16574823 |work=BBC News |date=16 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref> In 2012, Barton, along with [[Robbie Elliott]], a former Newcastle United fullback, sponsored a shirt each from [[Newcastle United W.F.C.|Newcastle United's women's team]]. Barton sponsored the number seven shirt, the number he wore in the men's side.<ref name=bartonShirtSponsor2012>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Sarah |title=Ex-Toon stars back Newcastle United women's team TWO former Toon stars have given their support to a North East women's football club. |work=chroniclelive.co.uk |location=Newcastle |language=en |date=17 August 2012 |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/local-news/ex-toon-stars-back-newcastle-united-1369586 | access-date = 26 July 2018}}</ref> In September 2013, Barton became the first player to wear rainbow laces as part of [[Stonewall's Rainbow Laces Campaign]] to promote the inclusion of the [[LGBTQ+ community]] in sport.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barton |first1=Joey |title=Joey Barton: 'Why I laced up for Stonewall's campaign' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2013/oct/17/joey-barton-why-i-laced-up |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240323234906/https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2013/oct/17/joey-barton-why-i-laced-up |archive-date=2024-03-23 |language=en |date=17 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Scott |title=Joey Barton becomes first footballer to wear anti-homophobia rainbow laces |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2013/09/16/joey-barton-becomes-first-footballer-to-wear-anti-homophobia-rainbow-laces/ |website=[[PinkNews]] |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240323234911/https://www.thepinknews.com/2013/09/16/joey-barton-becomes-first-footballer-to-wear-anti-homophobia-rainbow-laces/ |archive-date=2024-03-23 |language=en |date=16 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Jon |title=Rainbow Laces: How first campaign in 2013 got Premier League talking about gay footballers |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13023497/rainbow-laces-how-first-campaign-in-2013-got-premier-league-talking-about-gay-footballers |website=[[Sky Sports]] |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240323234909/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13023497/rainbow-laces-how-first-campaign-in-2013-got-premier-league-talking-about-gay-footballers |archive-date=2024-03-23 |language=en |date=6 December 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Views===
Barton is a prominent user of Twitter,<ref name=twit>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14662175 |title=Joey Barton: What's behind his Twitter philosophy? |last=de Castella |first=Tom |date=26 August 2011 |work=BBC News |access-date=26 August 2011}}</ref> with over 2.7 million followers as of December 2023.  Commenting on figures from [[Friedrich Nietzsche]] and [[George Orwell]] to [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] and Morrissey, his eclectic tweets have resulted in him being described by the BBC as "a philosophical sportsman to rival [[Eric Cantona]] in his heyday".<ref name=twit/> Others in the media have criticised this description, with [[Paul Hayward (journalist)|Paul Hayward]], chief sports writer for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', writing that Barton "manages to be patronised [by the media] and held up as some kind of exemplar all at once&nbsp;... he is skilled at tricking us into watching him veer between the extremes of thinker and thug. Either this is a repudiation of societal hypocrisy or, more likely, indicative of a sociopathic tendency."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/9265575/While-Joey-Barton-plays-up-to-middle-class-prejudices-he-remains-a-prisoner-of-his-own-violent-nature.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/9265575/While-Joey-Barton-plays-up-to-middle-class-prejudices-he-remains-a-prisoner-of-his-own-violent-nature.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=While Joey Barton plays up to middle-class prejudices he remains a prisoner of his own violent nature |last=Hayward |first=David |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=15 May 2012 |access-date=19 May 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ellie Mae O'Hagan of ''[[The Guardian]]'' commented that "the problem, I think, is not the belief that Barton is a reformed character, but the notion that one cannot possibly be a philosopher and violent at the same time: that quoting philosophy should automatically be taken as a sign of reformation&nbsp;... In my mind, this all boils down to class snobbery. It is automatically assumed that Barton has violent tendencies because he's a working-class man who has chosen to play football for a living. So when he shows signs of intelligence, it's treated as a sign of reform: intellect is the preserve of the gentlemanly middle-classes."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/may/14/joey-barton-philosophy-not-reformed |title=Joey Barton quotes philosophy. That doesn't make him 'reformed' |last=O'Hagan |first=Ellie May |author-link=Ellie Mae O'Hagan|newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=19 May 2012}}</ref>

On 29 May 2014, Barton appeared on the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Question Time (TV programme)|Question Time]]'' discussion programme where, referring to the [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP), he said "If I'm somewhere and there was four really ugly girls, I'm thinking she's not the worst – that's all UKIP are".<ref name=independent>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/bbc-question-time-joey-barton-accused-of-making-sexist-comments-after-comparing-the-eu-elections-to-choosing-between-ugly-girls-9457460.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/bbc-question-time-joey-barton-accused-of-making-sexist-comments-after-comparing-the-eu-elections-to-choosing-between-ugly-girls-9457460.html |archive-date=9 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Joey Barton on Question Time: QPR footballer accused of sexism after comparing EU elections to 'choosing between ugly girls' |last=Gander |first=Justin |date=29 May 2014 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |access-date=30 May 2014}}</ref> Barton's comments were criticised as sexist by an audience member, prompting him to apologise on air.<ref name=independent/> Barton has also criticised the participation of women in men's football.<ref>{{cite news |first=Karl |last=Matchett |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/joey-barton-kevin-keegan-england-women-b2425126.html |title=Joey Barton backs Kevin Keegan's view on female players talking about men's football |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=6 October 2023 |access-date=6 January 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-10/emma-hayes-addresses-joey-barton-systemic-sexism-in-football/103211410 |title=Chelsea boss Emma Hayes addresses Joey Barton's remarks about women commentating on men's football |website=ABC News |location=Australia |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=6 January 2024 }}</ref>

In a television programme broadcast on BBC Three on 30 January 2012, Barton stated his beliefs in support of gay rights, in discussion with presenter [[Amal Fashanu]], niece of [[Justin Fashanu]], who came out as gay in 1990 and was England's only openly gay footballer until 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jake Daniels: Blackpool forward becomes UK's first active male professional footballer to come out publicly as gay |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12614531/jake-daniels-blackpool-forward-becomes-uks-first-active-male-professional-footballer-to-come-out-publicly-as-gay |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref> He described lack of any openly gay players in English professional football as "a subject that's quite close to my heart", as his uncle is gay. He stated his belief that there would be an openly gay player "within the next 10 years" and expressed his fear that "certain managers&nbsp;... will discriminate against people" but that he feels "more fool them, and their lack of social awareness and intelligence" and wants his generation's legacy to "help not only change the game for the better, and change the teams that they played in, but also change the culture and change the society and the football clubs that they played at.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16722196 |title=The silence over gay footballers |work=BBC News |access-date=27 January 2012 |date=27 January 2012}}</ref>

In an article written in ''The Independent'' in February 2015, Barton stated that: "If I were Prime Minister I would privatise religion. All public money would be withdrawn from religion. Taxpayers' money will cease to sponsor religion in any and every form." He said that the [[Church of England]] should be [[Disestablishmentarianism|disestablished]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/if-i-were-prime-minister-i-would-privatise-religion-10060100.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/if-i-were-prime-minister-i-would-privatise-religion-10060100.html |archive-date=9 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=If I were Prime Minister: I would privatise religion |last=Barton |first=Joey |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=20 February 2015 |access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref> In April of that year, he was appointed an honorary associate of the [[National Secular Society]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/16/joey-barton-member-national-secular-society |title=Joey Barton becomes member of National Secular Society |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=16 April 2015 |access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref>

Barton has expressed strongly [[Republicanism in the United Kingdom|republican]] sentiments. In the run-up to the [[Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Platinum Jubilee]] he described the Queen and the monarchy as "an absurd concept".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/joey-barton-bristol-queen-monarchy-7151099|title=Joey Barton says the Queen and the monarchy are 'an absurd concept'|first=Tristan|last=Cork|date=31 May 2022|website=Bristol Live}}</ref>

Barton released his autobiography, ''No Nonsense'', in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=No Nonsense by Joey Barton review – a serial adopter of the fresh start |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/09/joey-barton-no-nonsense-review-autobiography |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=9 October 2016 |access-date=9 January 2023|last1=Clark |first1=Alex }}</ref>

===Gambling===
In October 2016, Barton was charged with breaking rules relating to gambling on football matches. He was accused by the [[Scottish Football Association]] of placing 44 bets on matches between 1 July and 15 September 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37567674 |title=Joey Barton: Rangers midfielder charged with breaking gambling rules |newspaper=BBC Sport |date=5 October 2016 |access-date=6 October 2016}}</ref> In November 2016, he received a one match ban from the Scottish Football Association for breaking the rules on gambling on football matches. In December 2016, he was charged with misconduct, with the Football Association claiming he had placed 1,260 bets over the past 10 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38421182 |title=Joey Barton: Midfielder charged 'for placing 1,260 bets' |date=23 December 2016 |access-date=24 December 2016 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

On 26 April 2017, Barton received an 18-month ban from football after admitting a Football Association charge in relation to betting.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39720232 |title=Joey Barton: Burnley midfielder banned for 18 months over betting |date=26 April 2017 |work=BBC Sport|access-date=26 April 2017}}</ref>

===Legal issues===
In 2006 [[Merseyside Police]] investigated after Barton exposed his buttocks to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] supporters following a game on 30 September. On 4 October, they announced that they would be taking no further action.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/5395778.stm|title=Police take no action over Barton|date=4 October 2006|work= BBC News|access-date = 7 January 2024}}</ref>

On 13 March 2007, Barton was arrested on suspicious of assault and criminal damage following an altercation with a taxi driver in [[Liverpool]] on 4 March.<ref name="auto2"/> He was cleared of this charge in May 2008, after his cousin, Joshua Wilson, admitted to causing the damage.<ref name="auto"/>

On 1 May 2007, Barton assaulted his teammate [[Ousmane Dabo]] during a training session. Dabo was hit several times, left unconscious, and hospitalised with head injuries, including a suspected detached [[retina]].<ref name="auto5"/> On 16 May, Barton was arrested and questioned by [[Greater Manchester Police]],<ref name="auto11"/> and was later charged with assault.<ref name="auto3"/> He initially pleaded not guilty, but later changed his plea to guilty.<ref name="auto7"/> On 1 July 2008, Barton was sentenced to a four-month suspended prison sentence plus 200 hours of community service and ordered to pay £3,000 compensation and Dabo's court costs.<ref name=ABHConviction/>

In the early hours of 27 December 2007, Barton was arrested on suspicion of assault in [[Liverpool]] city centre. Barton punched a man twenty times, causing him to lose consciousness, before attacking a teenage boy.<ref name="auto6"/> At the time, Barton was on bail for two previous arrests, and he was denied bail for the third arrest.<ref name="auto10"/> Barton pleaded guilty to the offence, and, on 20 May 2008, he was sentenced to six months in jail. Barton's cousin, Nadine Wilson, and his brother Andrew Barton also pleaded guilty to their part in the assaults and received suspended sentences.<ref name="Joey Barton is jailed for assault"/>

In August 2008 Jamie Tandy pursued a civil claim against Barton. Barton had stubbed out a lit cigar in Tandy's eye in 2004 while Tandy was a youth player at [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Tandy said that the incident caused a "major psychiatric deterioration in his health that has destroyed any chance he may have had of playing professional football at a high level."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/barton-facing-legal-action-over-cigar-assault-898285.html|title=Barton facing legal action over cigar assault|date=15 August 2008|work= The Independent|access-date = 7 January 2024}}</ref> In November 2009, Barton agreed to pay Tandy £65,000 as part of an out-of-court settlement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/joey-barton-forced-to-pay-65000-935841|title=Joey Barton forced to pay £65,000 for cigar assault|date=28 November 2009|work= Manchester Evening News|access-date = 7 January 2024}}</ref>

On 4 June 2012, Barton was arrested alongside three other men after a fight outside a nightclub in [[Liverpool]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/qpr-captain-joey-barton-arrested-862019|title=Barton arrest: QPR midfielder in custody after 5.30am brawl outside nightclub|date=4 June 2012|work= The Mirror|access-date = 7 January 2024}}</ref> Barton claimed that he had been "sucker punched" in the incident. The following month, all four men were told they would face no further police action.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/joey-barton-qpr-charges-arrestno-further-action-against-barton-after-arrest-526665-Jul2012/|title=No further action against Barton after arrest|date=19 July 2012|work= The 42|access-date = 7 January 2024}}</ref>

On 13 April 2019, [[South Yorkshire Police]] launched an investigation after Barton was alleged to have assaulted opposition manager [[Daniel Stendel]] in the [[Oakwell]] tunnel following a game between [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]] and [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]].<ref name="auto9"/> In July 2019, Barton was charged with causing actual bodily harm and bailed until 9 October 2019.<ref name="auto4"/> He pleaded not guilty.<ref name="auto8"/> On 6 December 2021, Barton was found not guilty of the charge.<ref name="auto1"/>

In July 2021 Barton was charged with the assault by beating of a woman at an address in [[Kew]], London in June 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-57960977|title=Football manager Joey Barton charged with attacking woman|date=25 July 2021|work= [[BBC News]]|access-date = 26 October 2021}}</ref> In March 2022, a court heard that Barton was accused of kicking his wife in the head and grabbing her throat while drunk, the case being adjourned to 23 June due to a late arrival of emails.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/joey-barton-bristol-rovers-manager-kicked-wife-in-head-and-grabbed-her-by-throat-in-drunken-row-court-hears-12569356|title=Joey Barton: Bristol Rovers manager 'kicked wife in head' and 'grabbed her by throat' in a drunken row, court heard|publisher=[[Sky News]]|date=18 March 2022|accessdate=21 March 2022}}</ref> The case was further delayed until the end of October, Barton's defence team being set a deadline of two weeks to provide the list of witnesses that they would be presenting and say whether or not the alleged victim would be called as a defence witness.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4174840/2022/06/23/joey-barton-trial-for-alleged-assault-on-wife-delayed-until-autumn/|title=Joey Barton trial for alleged assault delayed until autumn|website=theathletic.com|last1=D'rso|first1=Joey|last2=Taylor|first2=Daniel|date=23 June 2022|access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> The case was dismissed on 31 October on grounds of the impossibility of Barton receiving a fair trial because prosecutors would not call the alleged victim to testify,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/31/joey-barton-cleared-assaulting-wife-not-credible-witness |title=Joey Barton cleared of assaulting wife after court hears she is 'not a credible witness' |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |agency=PA Media |date=31 October 2022 |access-date=6 January 2024 }}</ref> but the acquittal was reversed on appeal by the prosecution.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2024/1350.html | title=Director of Public Prosecutions v Barton &#91;2024&#93; EWHC 1350 (Admin) }}</ref> In March 2025, Barton was found guilty of assault and handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/joey-barton-guilty-assaulting-wife-3604483 |title=Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife by kicking her in the head
 |newspaper=The i Paper|location=London |date=25 March 2025 |access-date=25 March 2025 }}</ref>

In April 2024 [[Cheshire Constabulary|Cheshire Police]] announced it was investigating Barton after "reports of offences under the [[Communications Act 2003|Communications Act]]". The force said it could not comment further about which posts had been reported.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-19 |title=Joey Barton: Police investigate ex-Premier League player tweets |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgxwv0z07v7o |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

[[Jeremy Vine]] sued Barton for [[libel]] over posts on Twitter, where Barton had repeatedly called Vine a "bike [[wikt:nonce|nonce]]". In a preliminary ruling, judge [[Karen Steyn|Mrs Justice Steyn]], in the High Court, held that the tweets were defamatory at common law, since Barton had combined the term 'nonce', British slang for paedophile, with images of notorious paedophiles such as [[Jimmy Savile]] and [[Jeffrey Epstein]], which had the defamatory effect of falsely insinuating that Vine is a paedophile.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stavrou |first1=Athena |title=Joey Barton calling Jeremy Vine 'bike n***e' had defamatory meaning, judge rules |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jeremy-vine-joey-barton-libel-high-court-b2550804.html |access-date=27 May 2024 |work=The Independent |date=25 May 2024}}</ref> In settlement, Barton offered to pay £75,000 in damages and to pay Vine's legal expenses.<ref>{{cite web | title=Joey Barton to pay Jeremy Vine £75,000 over defamatory posts | website=BBC News | date=18 June 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp33exz7xe1o | access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref> However, Vine stated that the £75,000+costs was an offer made at an earlier stage, and subsequently Barton went on to make further defamatory statements, and that the legal process continues in respect of these.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/jeremy-vine-says-joey-bartons-apology-and-75-000-not-the-final-outcome-in-defamation-case-13154921|title=Jeremy Vine says Joey Barton's payout 'not final outcome' of libel case|work=Sky News}}</ref> To settle the libel claim with Vine, Barton was ordered to pay an additional £35,000.<ref>{{cite news | last=Savage | first=Mark | title=Joey Barton to pay an extra £35,000 to Jeremy Vine | work=BBC News | date=19 June 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjeev9g5745o | access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref>

In January 2024, [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] responded with condemnation to Barton's referring to [[Eniola Aluko]] and [[Lucy Ward (footballer)|Lucy Ward]] as "the [[Fred West|Fred and Rose West]] of football commentary" after they appeared as [[pundit]] and co-[[Sports commentator|commentator]] on an ITV match broadcast.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67897623 |title=Joey Barton: ITV criticises 'vindictive remarks' from ex-footballer towards female commentators |website=BBC Sport |date=5 January 2024 |access-date=6 January 2024 }}</ref> In July 2024 Barton was charged with making [[Malicious Communications Act 1988|malicious communications]] related to  [[Tweet (social media)|tweet]]s he made concerning Aluko, between 1 and 18 January 2024.<ref>{{cite web | title=Joey Barton charged over malicious communications | website=BBC News | date=22 July 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgxqgxyv1kpo | access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> Barton had said on his [[Twitter]] feed that Aluko had only been hired as a pundit for an [[England national football team|England]] game for "[[Multiculturalism|diversity]] and inclusion quotas". His tweets also likened Aluko and fellow pundit [[Lucy Ward (footballer)|Lucy Ward]] to the serial killers [[Fred West|Fred]] and [[Rose West]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Wolfe | first=Danielle de | title=as he slams 'Banana Republic' | website=LBC | date=22 July 2024 | url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/joey-barton-charged-over-malicious-online-communications-targetting-former-engla/ | access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref>

In December 2024 Barton was additionally charged with malicious communication relating to social media posts referring to Jeremy Vine and Lucy Ward.<ref>{{cite news | last=Humphries | first=Jonny | title=Joey Barton charged over social media posts | work=BBC News | date=17 December 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g3zz1wynjo | access-date=18 December 2024}}</ref>

On 9 April 2025 Aluko won the first stage of a High Court libel claim against Barton. She had appeared to criticise people placed on the government's [[Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme|furlough scheme]], for which she apologised. In response Barton had posted comments suggesting that her private education made her a "hypocrite" and that her late father had been financially corrupt.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9115j3dvzo|title=Eni Aluko speaks out after Joey Barton defamation case win|date=9 April 2025|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/04/09/eni-aluko-continue-libel-case-against-joey-barton/|title=Eni Aluko to continue libel case against Joey Barton after ‘race-card player’ post ruled defamatory|first=Ben|last=Rumsby|date=9 April 2025|work=The Telegraph}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season
!colspan=3|League
!colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Includes [[FA Cup]] and [[Coupe de France]]}}
!colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Includes [[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]] and [[Scottish League Cup]]}}
!colspan=2|Other
!colspan=2|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan=6|[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
|[[2002–03 Manchester City F.C. season|2002–03]]<ref name=sb0203>{{soccerbase season|34138|2002|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|[[Premier League]]
|7||1||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||7||1
|-
|[[2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season|2003–04]]<ref name=sb0304>{{soccerbase season|34138|2003|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Premier League
|28||1||4||0||2||0||5{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0||39||1
|-
|[[2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season|2004–05]]<ref name=sb0405>{{soccerbase season|34138|2004|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Premier League
|31||1||1||0||1||1||colspan=2|—||33||2
|-
|[[2005–06 Manchester City F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref name=sb0506>{{soccerbase season|34138|2005|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Premier League
|31||6||5||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||36||6
|-
|[[2006–07 Manchester City F.C. season|2006–07]]<ref name=sb0607>{{soccerbase season|34138|2006|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Premier League
|33||6||4||1||1||0||colspan=2|—||38||7
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!130||15||14||1||4||1||5||0||153||17
|-
|rowspan=6|[[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
|[[2007–08 Newcastle United F.C. season|2007–08]]<ref name=sb0708>{{soccerbase season|34138|2007|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Premier League
|23||1||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||23||1
|-
|[[2008–09 Newcastle United F.C. season|2008–09]]<ref name=sb0809>{{soccerbase season|34138|2008|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Premier League
|9||1||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||9||1
|-
|[[2009–10 Newcastle United F.C. season|2009–10]]<ref name=sb0910>{{soccerbase season|34138|2009|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|[[EFL Championship|Championship]]
|15||1||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||15||1
|-
|[[2010–11 Newcastle United F.C. season|2010–11]]<ref name=sb1011>{{Soccerbase season|34138|2010|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Premier League
|32||4||1||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||35||5
|-
|[[2011–12 Newcastle United F.C. season|2011–12]]<ref name=sb1112/>
|Premier League
|2||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||colspan=2|—||2||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!81||7||1||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||84||8
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
|[[2011–12 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|2011–12]]<ref name=sb1112>{{soccerbase season|34138|2011|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Premier League
|31||3||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||32||3
|-
|[[2012–13 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|2012–13]]<ref name=sb1213>{{soccerbase season|34138|2012|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Premier League
|0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0
|-
|[[2013–14 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|2013–14]]<ref name=sb1314>{{soccerbase season|34138|2013|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> 
|Championship
|34||3||1||0||1||0||3{{efn|Appearances in [[EFL Championship play-offs|Championship play-offs]]}}||0||39||3
|-
|[[2014–15 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|2014–15]]<ref name=sb1415>{{soccerbase season|34138|2014|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref>
|Premier League
|28||1||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||28||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!93||7||2||0||1||0||3||0||99||7
|-
|[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] (loan)
|[[2012–13 Olympique de Marseille season|2012–13]]<ref name=Soccerway>{{cite web |title=J. Barton: Summary |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/joey-barton/2855/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>
||[[Ligue 1]]
|25||0||3||0||0||0||5{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||1||33||1
|-
|[[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
|[[2015–16 Burnley F.C. season|2015–16]]<ref name=sb1516>{{soccerbase season|34138|2015|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref>
|Championship
|38||3||2||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||40||3
|-
|[[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]
|[[2016–17 Rangers F.C. season|2016–17]]<ref name=sb1617/>
|[[Scottish Premiership]]
|5||0||colspan=2|—||3||0||colspan=2|—||8||0
|-
|Burnley
|[[2016–17 Burnley F.C. season|2016–17]]<ref name=sb1617>{{soccerbase season|34138|2016|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref>
|Premier League
|14||1||4||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||18||1
|-
!colspan=3|Career total
!386||33||26||2||10||1||13||1||435||37
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
:Source:<ref>{{NFT player |id=12410 |name=Barton, Joey |access-date=5 June 2018}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[England national football team|England]]
|2007||1||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total||1||0
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|match played 24 October 2023}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=4803 |title=Managers: Joey Barton |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=5|Record
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]]
|align=left|2 June 2018
|align=left|4 January 2021
{{WDL|128|51|36|41|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|[[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
|align=left|22 February 2021
|align=left|26 October 2023
{{WDL|143|53|30|60|decimals=1}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|271|104|66|101|decimals=1}}
|}

==Honours==
===As a player===
'''Newcastle United'''
*[[Football League Championship]]: [[2009–10 Football League Championship|2009–10]]<ref>{{cite book |editor1-first=Glenda |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011 |year=2010 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-6107-6 |pages=36, 268–269}}</ref>

'''Queens Park Rangers'''
*[[Football League Championship play-offs]]: [[2014 Football League play-offs#Championship|2013–14]]<ref name=2014POF/>

'''Burnley'''
*Football League Championship: [[2015–16 Football League Championship|2015–16]]<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017 |year=2016 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-3395-0 |pages=94–95}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] Young Player of the Year: [[2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season|2003–04]]<ref name=Scrapbook/>
*[[EFL Awards|The Football League Team of the Season]]: 2015–16<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2016/april/the-football-league-awards-2016-winners/ |title=The Football League Awards 2016: Winners |publisher=[[English Football League|EFL.com]] |date=17 April 2016 |access-date=29 April 2022 }}</ref>
*[[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] Player of the Year: [[2015–16 Burnley F.C. season|2015–16]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Joey Barton: Burnley midfielder receives Championship winners' medal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36252545 |work=BBC Sport |date=10 May 2016 |access-date=10 May 2016}}</ref>
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (2010s)#Championship 7|2015–16 Championship]]<ref name=PFA/>

===As a manager===
'''Bristol Rovers'''
*[[EFL League Two]] third-place promotion: [[2021–22 EFL League Two|2021–22]]<ref name="21/22 promotion"/>

'''Individual'''
*[[EFL League One Manager of the Month]]: [[2019–20 EFL League One|September 2019]]<ref name="Sep19 MOTM"/>
*[[EFL League Two Manager of the Month]]: [[2021–22 EFL League Two|March 2022]]<ref name="Mar22 MOTM"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Category:Joey Barton |b=no |n=no |q=Joey Barton |s=no |v=no |voy=no |species=no |d=no}}
* {{Soccerbase}}
* {{LFP Ligue 1|joseph-anthony-barton}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{2015–16 The Football League Team of the Season}}
{{2015–16 Football League Championship PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Burnley F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Fleetwood Town F.C. managers}}
{{Bristol Rovers F.C. managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barton, Joey}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Huyton]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Newcastle United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Olympique de Marseille players]]
[[Category:Burnley F.C. players]]
[[Category:Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League players]]
[[Category:England men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:English expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:English prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:English people convicted of assault]]
[[Category:English autobiographers]]
[[Category:English columnists]]
[[Category:English male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:English male criminals]]
[[Category:Sportspeople involved in betting scandals]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) people]]
[[Category:British sportspeople convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:English republicans]]
[[Category:People acquitted of assault]]
[[Category:21st-century British autobiographers]]
[[Category:People charged with malicious communication]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]
[[Category:People convicted of domestic violence]]