Barton: No point in Rossiter appeal

Panels protect the decision to charge players, insists Rovers manager Joey

JOEY Barton admits that Bristol Rovers simply “didn’t bother” contesting the violent conduct charge against Jordan Rossiter after the 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury Town last weekend.

Rossiter was charged by the FA in the wake of the Memorial Stadium clash last Saturday in relation to an incident in the 32nd minute which involved the 25-year-old and Shrewsbury player Tom Bayliss.

At a break in play, the former Liverpool and Rangers midfielder raised his arm, making contact with the loose ball and Bayliss.

Referee Sam Purkiss spoke to Rossiter amid appeals from the Shrewsbury players for a red card, but he took no further action but after viewing replays the FA issued their charge on Monday evening.

Rossiter, right, admitted the charge, resulting in a three-game ban that will rule him out against Morecambe today and subsequent games against MK Dons and Ipswich, meaning he will not be available again until the visit of Lincoln on September 17.

Barton says the FA were alerted to the incident by footage sent by

Shrewsbury, and he added: “My experience of those panels is once they make a decision they tend to double down on it and protect the decision that’s been made, rather than have a full investigation. You have to prove your innocence.

“When you look at it in slow motion, his arm does make contact. When you watch it in real-time, you can argue how much does he make of it? We didn’t bother appealing it. What’s the point? There is not enough evidence there to say he hasn’t made contact with him.”