Joey Barton spared jail

Jul 1 2008 By Paul James

JOEY Barton has today been spared jail after admitting attacking a former team-mate in a training ground row.

Barton, 25, punched former Manchester City colleague Ousmane Dabo up to five times, leaving him unconscious and covered in blood on the ground.

Newcastle United issued a statement shortly after the court's decision, saying officials planned to hold talks with Barton and his representatives "at the earliest possible opportunity".

The midfielder had claimed he acted in self-defence but changed his plea to guilty ahead of a scheduled trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, where he was given a four-month suspended sentence.

Frenchman Dabo was knocked unconscious in an "explosive combination of football and violence", the court heard.

The pair clashed after a simmering row during a training session on May 1 last year.

Dabo, 31, pushed Barton’s shoulder and was knocked unconscious. Eyewitnesses recalled Barton getting on top of the player and repeatedly hitting him.

Dabo was treated in hospital for the effects of head trauma, an inflamed eye and bruised eyelids.

He also suffered from headaches for three weeks and missed several matches.

One player, Georgios Samaras, said he had never seen such a violent incident on a football pitch in all his career and that he would "never forget it".

Barton was jailed for six months on May 20 for assault and affray after a fight at a McDonald's in Liverpool city centre on December 27 last year.

Barton's four-month sentence was suspended for two years.

Today Judge Mushtaq Khokhar told him: "As a professional footballer you are someone who is talented and greatly idolised by young and old alike whether you are playing at Manchester City and now at Newcastle United.

"You are constantly in the public eye. You have a high profile, there would be instances of provocations ... being an idol brings with it responsibilities which you have to carry with you all the time.

"You want to be setting an example, particularly to those who idolise you, particularly youngsters who look up to you."

The Newcastle United statement said: "Newcastle United notes the sentence passed to Joey Barton at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court today.

"The club now intends to hold discussions with Joey and his representatives at the earliest possible opportunity.

"Until such time that this meeting has taken place, there will be no further comment from the club."