BARTON FACING (ANOTHER) BETTING CHARGE
Former Ibrox star accused of placing 1,260 bets by FA
JOEY BartOn is facing another betting ban after the Fa accused the former rangers midfielder of breaching their rules on gambling.
the 34-year-old left Ibrox after a disastrous spell ended in a one-match SFa suspension for betting on 44 games between July 1 and September 15, 2016.
Last week, Barton agreed to join former club Burnley until the end of the season, although there could now be question marks over that move.
He faces a new sanction if charges of placing 1,260 bets over the 10-year period between March 26, 2006 and May 13, 2016 are proven.
the Fa implemented new procedures two years ago to tighten up the rules on football betting.
Barton’s rangers contract was terminated by the club following a fall-out with boss Mark Warburton. the veteran midfielder now has until January 5 to respond to the latest Fa charge.
Last night, Burnley released a short statement confirming they were aware of the charge and would speak with Barton, who is yet to sign a contract at turf Moor.
‘the club will be discussing the matter with Joey and his legal representatives and will be making no further comment on the matter at this time,’ it read.
Warburton, meanwhile, insists he won’t risk the recovery of another high-profile
midfield signing by rushing Jordan Rossiter back from injury. The 19-year-old joined in the summer from Liverpool but last played for the Ibrox first team in a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock on August 26. Managing just six appearances so far, Rossiter looks no closer to a comeback after four months on the sidelines with a series of calf problems. Determined to get to the root of the underlying issues curtailing the former England Under-19 cap once and for all, Warburton said: ‘Jordan has had niggling injuries and we have to find out the root cause of them, simple as that. ‘He is more frustrated than anybody it hasn’t been more, let me assure you of that. ‘But he can’t come back for two or three weeks and break down. ‘We need to get him to a position where he knows he is fit and well. ‘People talk in a derogatory manner about Jordan but no one loves playing football more than him. To see the boys going out again this morning just kills him.’ Reluctant to commit to a timescale for a firstteam return after a series of false dawns, the Rangers boss added: ‘If Jordan is fit and well in two weeks, fantastic. If he is longer, it is longer. ‘The injury is private to the club, obviously, but right now the only factor is that he wants to play football and our job is to get him fit. ‘That is the job, to get to the root cause of it. ‘It is frustrating and we have got a lot of people that are looking at it for all the players. Josh Windass had niggling injuries, why? A different training regime to what he is used to, maybe? ‘Matt Crooks is the same. We look at every individual player and get to the problems ‘Jordan played in the summer for England and he was their best player, he was superb for England. ‘I’m delighted with him and we know what we have got in terms of quality and potential.’ Rangers sources, meanwhile, have denied reports of a pre-contract move for Hearts winger Sam Nicholson.