Dyche: Barton ban is ‘harsh’

BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche has argued the 18-month ban imposed on his player Joey Barton is “harsh” on the day the Football Association published their reasons for suspending the midfielder following betting breaches.

The FA imposed the punishment on the 34-year-old on Wednesday in relation to Barton making 1260 bets on matches between March 2006 and May 2016, with a regulatory commission arguing an 18-month ban was “not out of kilter” with previous betting cases and was the “shortest possible sanction” that could have been handed out.

Dyche believes the severity of the punishment for Barton was rough when considering the bans awarded for other offences.

“We feel it’s a bit harsh. I don’t know how you balance all these different things that have happened in football.

“One of the most obvious was the legend that is Eric Cantona kung-fu kicking someone – he got a ninemonth ban.

“We know the rules, I must make that clear, and he knows that.

“But the FA made it quite clear there’s no intent other than his own personal gambling, his integrity is intact, it’s just his own personal situation.”