Barton pleads guilty to assaulting team mate Dabo

NEWCASTLE UNITED midfield Joey Barton pleaded guilty yesterday to assaulting team mate Ousmane Dabo during a training session last year when both played for Manchester City, the police said.

Greater Manchester Police said in a statement that Barton attacked Dabo after an argument over a late tackle as the players were leaving the pitch.

“The victim walked away but Barton ran to him and punched him on the side of the head. The victim was instantly made unconscious but Barton continued to punch him as he was collapsing to the floor,” the police said.

Barton, who has one England cap, joined Newcastle United for £5.8 million in July 2007 after the assault effectively ended his career with Manchester City.

Barton, 25, was jailed for six months in May after admitting to beating up a teenager during a night out.

The police said Barton had to be dragged off Dabo by team mates.

The French midfielder was left with a scratched retina, significant bruising and stitches under his eye.

Dabo, 30, returned to Serie A club Lazio earlier this year saying his 18 months in Manchester had been a “nightmare”.

Barton is due to be sentenced today. Dabo was in court to hear him plead guilty.

In excerpts from Dabo’s victim impact statement, the player said he suffered a lot of pain in the week after the incident and could not sleep. He also suffered from headaches for three weeks.

Barton pleaded guilty after Judge Mushtaq Khokhar indicated that he would impose a suspended sentence for the assault.