Dyche: Joey ban should not be double Cantona’s

Sean Dyche has questioned how Joey Barton could be banned for 18 months for breaching betting rules when Eric Cantona received a suspension only half that length for kung-fu kicking a supporter.

The Burnley manager yesterday sided with Barton’s claims that the Football Association punishment had been harsh as it emerged that the midfielder placed 1,260 bets worth more than £200,000 over a decade to May last year.

Barton has taken a drastic cut in his wages – believed to be around £20,000 a week – under the terms of the deal in which he rejoined Burnley in January after admitting to 35 breaches of the FA rule prohibiting players from betting on football.

Dyche accepted that Barton had flouted the rules and deserved to be punished but felt the ban looked severe compared to Cantona’s ninemonth suspension for attacking a Crystal Palace supporter as a Manchester United player in 1995.

He also expressed hope that the governing body would now focus its efforts on weeding out divers and cheats as part of a wider cleanup of the game.

Speaking against the backdrop of an advertising board adorned with the name of Burnley’s shirt sponsor, dafebet, a betting company, Dyche said: “Joey feels it’s a bit harsh. He’s disappointed. We feel it’s a bit harsh. I don’t know how you balance these things in football. The legend that is Eric Cantona got a nine-month ban and he kung-fu kicked someone.

“We know the rules and I must make that clear. There’s no intent other than his own personal gambling, no attempt to change games. Eighteen months seems a long time to me in lieu of some of the things I’ve seen in the game.

“The FA have a role and we respect that decision. They’re obviously showing strength in these decisions. I only assume and imagine they’re now going to move on to the cheating in the game, the constant diving, feigning injury, falling to the floor. I’m sure they’ll move on to the bigger picture and greater good.”