Barton threatens action over red card
Joey Barton
QPR captain Joey Barton continues to walk a disciplinary tightrope after claiming he could sue over the red card he received against Norwich.
The west London club have appealed to the Football Association against Barton’s dismissal in Monday’s 2-1 home defeat, and it is understood the governing body in turn are to seek observations from Rangers over critical comments from director Ruben Emir Gnanalingam.
Barton gave QPR an early lead at Loftus Road, before then getting involved in a tussle with Bradley Johnson, and appearing to headbutt the Norwich midfielder.
Play continued before referee Neil Swarbrick consulted his assistant nearest to the incident and produced a red card. Norwich went on to win through goals from Anthony Pilkington and Steve Morison.
Barton had immediately used his Twitter account to launch an impassioned defence of what he viewed as a “ridiculous decision”, claiming the match officials had been “conned”.
The 29-year-old midfielder yesterday wrote on Twitter: “I wonder how long it is before a football club sues a referee for making a bad decision? There’s too much at stake to not have technology.
“Or a player sues another player for play-acting. Which is basically a lie and that is actionable. What’s the difference?
“Someone has to set the precedent to stop the game from being ruined, maybe I’ll be the first one. Can players sue referees?”
Barton added: “Those three points yesterday, could be (the) difference between Premier League survival and not. That equates to a lot of money.”
The QPR captain claimed the officials told him at half-time they had not actually seen the alleged headbutt.
Barton feels a review system such as in rugby league and rugby union should be utilised by football.
“We have the best officiated game in the world on our doorstep (rugby). Why don’t we stop listening to FIFA bureaucrats and move our game forward?” he continued on Twitter.
“Referees would embrace all the technology available in my opinion. Game needs to move forward. Incidents like y’days would be cited and dealt with retrospectively if the officials, were unclear/unsure. I also feel it would lead to respect like rugby.”
He later added: “It’s only archaic dinosaurs who don’t like change that don’t agree with technology.”
Norwich midfielder Johnson, meanwhile, was pictured at the PDC World Darts Championship final on Monday night with a placard mocking the QPR captain. It read: “Barton, your breath stinks”.
Barton responded in kind, as he said on Twitter: “Don’t worry people I’ve seen Boris Johnson from Norwich with his sign at the darts. He’s irrelevant really, absolute no mark.”
Barton also dismissed rumours he would be looking to walk out on QPR this month, having only joined them in the summer. He added: “What’s this transfer request nonsense? I’ve never run from a challenge in my life, why would I start now. Absolute nonsensical #morelies”.
As it stands, Barton faces an automatic three-match ban for violent conduct, and QPR must now present supporting evidence ahead of an independent disciplinary hearing, which will convene and make a decision ahead of the weekend’s FA Cup third-round tie at MK Dons. Barton himself appears pessimistic of being exonerated, citing the FA’s decision to uphold a red card for Wolves midfielder Nenad Milijas last week.
In another Twitter post, Barton said: “Club have appealed, not holding my breath after the Milijas debacle.”
With no real close-ups, general television footage from the game initially proved inconclusive in relation to the Barton-Johnson incident.
QPR boss Neil Warnock branded Johnson a “disgrace” for his perceived over-reaction.
It is understood that despite being highly charged, the FA have decided QPR’s post-match comments from manager and captain do not warrant any further action.
However, while those statements may well have been overlooked, the club could face sanction over an apparent Tweet, which was soon deleted, from director Gnanalingam reported to have hit out at the referee being “biased and blind”.
In September, the FA wrote to QPR owner Tony Fernandes for a similar controversial message, and the club will be contacted again for their observations over this latest transgression.
