Bad boy Barton 18mth ban for match betting
FOOTBALL’S bad boy Joey Barton has been banned from the game for 18 months on an FA betting rap – effectively ending his career in the top flight. The 34-year-old was fined €35,000 and warned about his future conduct after being charged with breaking rules. He admitted a gambling addiction after placing 1,260 bets on matches between March 26, 2006 and May 13, 2016. Since 2004, he placed more than “15,000 bets across a whole range of sports” using an account with Betfair – staking an average of £150. The bets included backing his own team to lose matches, which is against FA rules. But Barton stressed he was not involved in the match-day squad in any of those games. The FA also made clear there was no suggestion of matchfixing – not least because of Barton’s hopeless record. The one-time England international only won three of the 30 wagers at the centre of the FA probe. When Newcastle lost 3-1 to Stevenage in 2011, it was a huge FA Cup upset. Barton played and lost nearly £497.50 by backing the Magpies to win. Among the most notable bets against his team were £10 on a 3-0 Newcastle loss against PSV in a friendly. He also bet £500 on a Chelsea win in what was a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park in 2010. Barton admitted a Scottish FA charge of placing 44 bets between July 1 and September 15, 2016, while at Rangers. But while he released full details of his bets and accepted he broke rules, he claimed the penalty against him was severe because of his reputation. Barton said: “I do feel the penalty is heavier than it might be for other less controversial players. The decision effectively forces me into an early retirement. I had no more ability to influence the outcome than had I been betting on darts. On some occasions, my bet on my own team to lose was an expression of my anger and frustration at not being picked or being unable to play. I have never placed a bet against my team when in a position to influence the game. I am pleased my integrity on that has never been in question.” Players in England’s top eight divisions are banned from betting on any contest they are involved in. The PFA said: “Sanctions for breaches must always be proportionate. We hope sufficient weight is given to the sanctions handed down in other cases of a similar nature.” Barton, who signed for Burnley this season, also called on the FA to do more to tackle football’s gambling culture.