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LAST UPDATE | 6 Dec 2021
FORMER PERMIER LEAGUE footballer Joey Barton has been cleared of pushing over a rival manager at the end of a match, leaving him bloodied and with a broken tooth.
When the Bristol Rovers manager gave evidence last week, Barton, 39, denied it was him who shoved then-Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel in the tunnel after a League One match between his Fleetwood Town team and the South Yorkshire side on 13 April 2019.
Stendel told a jury at Sheffield Crown Court how he was walking down the tunnel in the corner of Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium after his side’s 4-2 victory when he was knocked over by a push from behind, causing him to hit his face on the metal structure.
Video footage shown repeatedly during the trial showed Stendel entering the tunnel followed by Barton, jogging, a moment later.
The jury took under two hours to find Barton not guilty of one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a week-long trial.
After leaving the court, Barton said: “I think the verdict speaks for itself.”
Asked how he felt, he said: “Better than I did before.”
He left building with his solicitor, who said his client did not wish to comment.
The 10-person jury heard how the incident in the tunnel happened after a second half which featured tensions between the coaching staff of the two sides, with Fleetwood Town’s assistant manager, Clint Hill, receiving a yellow card.
Jurors were shown mobile phone footage of the handshake between the two managers at the end of the match during which, Stendel told the jury, Barton was aggressive towards him.
Barton admitted using “industrial language” during the handshake, but denied he was aggressive, and said there had not been tensions between the two managers during the match.
He explained that he had only tried to explain to Stendel that, if they did not control their coaching staff, they might be personally liable to substantial fines from the league.
Barton pointed out that, after the handshake, he had a friendly chat with a Barnsley player about his time playing for the French team Marseille and also the referee, before he headed for the tunnel.
He said he began to jog because he wanted to get into the dressing room ahead of his players.
And he said the video footage showed him weaving through the crowded tunnel towards the stand.
Barton stood in the dock for the verdict wearing a dark suit over a white shirt with a dark tie.
He was immediately told he could leave the court by Judge Jeremy Richardson QC.
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Barton was wearing a dark suit over a
white shirt and a dark tie – wow thanks for updating me on the important issues of the day
@Dave Hammond: It looks like he’s sporting a Hitler tache in that pic as well. A bold fashion statement.
@Dave Hammond: yet you took time to read and comment on the article
@Paul Smith: Yeah he read it and is pointing out a pointless piece of information in the article
@Kieran Fogarty: that we have to read again – which is even worse…
@Handsome McWonderful: Hitler would stay away from that buoyo….
Harry Potter hasn’t aged well.
What’s with the Dick Spring 80′s look?
@William Tallon: Sean Penn
@rugbyanbeer: Hmmm… A bit. Sean Penn’s best ever look though was in ‘This Must Be The Place’ where he was essentially Robert Smith! A great performance…
@William Tallon: bit of james joyce in there as well.
@Fred spins kdb: Very much so now that you’ve mentioned it…
He was well placed in rangers to be fair.
Highly recommend his book. Troubled up bringing. He comes across quite well in it. Very honest on his on failings as a person/footballer. And him trying to deal with them with professional help.
@Darren Fitzpatrick: I read it too. Totally changed my opinion of him.
@BobserMc: yeah same. I done the audio when I said “read”. Him narrating it makes it easier to listen. Some great stories from city’s trips away with Richard Dunne.
Is that look to go with his brilliant french accent ?
Should have been given time for that dodgy moustache
If this went to court, the parties involved must have had no recollection of football in the 70s.
He has been found not guilty.
@Brianán McBride: great observation.
@Charmaine ☘ Irish: I posted above before the journal updated the verdict. No need to be so catty!
I 100% thought it was Louis Theroux on the picture.
have your say