Barton given thinking time

Joey Barton was last night given extra time to respond to the two charges of violent conduct levelled against him for his behaviour during QPR’s Premier League defeat at Manchester City.

The deadline for Barton to accept or deny the charges had been 6pm last night but the Football Association extended that to 12pm today following a request from the Rangers captain’s representatives.

The FA said in a statement: “The deadline of 6pm on Tuesday 15 May, which Joey Barton had until to respond to the two FA charges against him for alleged violent conduct has been extended to 12 noon on Wednesday 16 May following a request from his representatives.”