Barton is arrested for assault
Dec 28 2007 by Neil McKay, The Journal
NEWCASTLE United’s controversial midfield player Joey Barton was arrested yesterday over an alleged assault.
Barton, 25, spent yesterday in police cells in his home city Liverpool after being picked up in the early hours.
His arrest came just hours after his under-fire team crashed to a disappointing 1-0 Boxing Day defeat to Wigan Athletic, a game he missed due to an ankle injury.
Police sources on Mersyeside say Barton was spotted on CCTV cameras in Liverpool city centre allegedly "acting aggressively and bouncing from one group of people to another."
Officers found two men who claimed to have been attacked by Barton.
They claimed they were assaulted by the footballer during a ‘scuffle’ in Church Street – the city’s main pedestrianised shopping thoroughfare.
Last night police refused to reveal exactly what injuries the pair suffered or whether they needed hospital treatment.
A spokeswoman for Merseyside police confirmed that a 25-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault, as well as a 19-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman.
A spokesman for Newcastle United
said last night: "The club is aware of an incident but until there is more information it would be inappropriate to comment."
Barton was allowed time to rest before officers began questioning him at Liverpool’s St Anne Street police station yesterday evening.
It is unclear whether the £45,000 a week player player had been given special permission to stay in the North-West by manager Sam Allardyce.
The rest of the Newcastle team travelled back to the North-East after the game and reported for morning training as usual.
Barton’s is already awaiting trial for assault in June following a training ground bust up with his former team-mate at Manchester City, Ousamane Dabo.
Two months earlier he was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage after an argument with a taxi driver and in 2004 was fined £60,000 by the club for stubbing a cigar out in the eye of junior team-mate Jamie Tandy at a Christmas party.
Recently he came under criticism for Newcastle United supporters after describing their criticisms as "vicious" after his team’s 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool.
