Once again Joey Barton has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
How much longer will he be tolerated?
This time it is for a brawl outside a Liverpool nightclub which involved himself and two other men. It happened in the early hours of June 4th outside Garlands club on Eberle Street.
Apparently two young men chanted abuse at him and then punched him in the face, although given Barton’s reputation it would be difficult to assume he was a completely innocent victim. He’s possibly one of the most violent men ever to wear a football kit.
In the last game of the season he embarrassed himself and Queens Park Rangers by being sent off, in the process kneeing Aguero and squaring up to half of the Manchester City squad. He got a 12-game ban for his trouble and his reputation sank further into the mire. QPR knew what they were getting themselves in for though – Barton has been convicted in a criminal court for violence twice, one time being imprisoned for assault and affray in Liverpool city centre.
His reputation as a loose cannon has not been stifled at QPR, where he has relished in a consistent first team place and played a crucial role as captain. He has been sent off twice, both times for violent conduct.
The incident on the last day of the season though has prompted QPR to launch an internal investigation which could lead to him being stripped of the captaincy or, at worst, having his contract terminated.
If this were to happen, it seems too hard to believe Barton would find another home in English football. If he did, it would be with a Championship or maybe even a League One team for whom his talents will be appreciated. He has become too dangerous a player to have in the Premier League when there is so much more talent readily available.
Lovely kit that France one. Always make nice kits Nike.
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) June 11, 2012
He will surely end up as another washed-up player with a lot of branded Nike tracksuits, teaching kids how to do keepy-ups with footballs.
But most of all he has become a liability to himself, an embarrassment to football, and a negative role model for the beautiful game.
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