FA ban Barton over Dabo assault

JOEY BARTON was yesterday handed a 12-game ban, six of which are suspended, for his training ground assault on former Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo.

Barton attacked Dabo, who is now with Lazio, in May of last year and was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to assault earlier this year.

The FA’s independent disciplinary commission handed down the punishment to the Newcastle United midfielder, with Barton also ordered to pay a fine of £25,000 (€31,000) after admitting a charge of violent conduct.

All of the suspended matches will be invoked should the one-cap England international be found guilty of any similar charge involving violence or be dismissed from the field of play for violent conduct, but not for serious foul play.

A statement from the commission chairman Maurice Armstrong on the FA’s official website read: “Much has been written about Mr Barton over recent months.

“The commission members considered principally the serious attack by Mr Barton that clearly cannot be accepted.

“The members also had to take into consideration the sanctions imposed by the courts and the pro-active support Mr Barton has received.

“The commission members wanted to punish the offence appropriately but give Mr Barton an opportunity to ensure his professional conduct does not falter again and ensure he is fully aware of the consequences should he make another serious error of judgement.”