Joey gets a lifeline

JOEY BARTON has been handed a chance to save his career after his gambling ban was slashed.

Barton, released by Burnley at the end of last season, was banned for 18 months and fined £30,000 by the FA in April after admitting placing 1,260 bets on football matches.

But the appeal board last night ruled the sentence was “excessive” and cut the ban to 13 months after admitting evidence from Barton’s psychiatrist about his addiction should not have been rejected.

The midfielder will now be free to play again on June 1, 2018 – three months before his 36th birthday.