Barton bemoans bum deal from FA

MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Joey Barton feels he may have been the victim of a “witch hunt” after the FA punished him for dropping his shorts earlier this season.

The 24-year-old was fined €3,000 and given a conduct warning after mooning at Everton fans after the match at Goodison Park on September 30.

Barton believes the punishment made him question whether he was being singled out for special treatment, and he highlighted the fact that Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe avoided any fine or suspension for biting West Ham midfielder Javier Mascherano, as did another player, not named by Barton, for “blatantly cheating”.