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12-match FA ban for Barton

05/09/2008

Joey Barton has been banned for 12 matches and fined £25,000 by the Football Association after admitting an assault against a former team-mate.

The Newcastle United midfielder admitted to a violent conduct charge following a training ground incident with Ousmane Dabo when the players were at Manchester City.

Six of the matches included in the FA's ruling are suspended until the 2009-10 season and will only be activated should he be found guilty of any similar charge of be sent off for violent conduct.

Maurice Armstrong, chairman of the FA's independent regulatory commission, said: "Much has been written about Mr Barton over recent months. The regulatory commission had the benefit of taking all appropriate information into consideration. The commission members considered principally the serious attack by Mr Barton that clearly cannot be accepted.

"The members also had to take into consideration the sanctions imposed by the courts and the proactive support Mr Barton has received from Newcastle United FC and other professional bodies.

"The commission members wanted to punish the offence appropriately but give Mr Barton an opportunity to ensure his professional conduct does not falter again and ensure he is fully aware of the consequences should he make another serious error of judgement."

Today's FA sanction completes a torrid 12 months for Barton.

He has already been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting assault upon Dabo in a court of law.

The 26-year-old was also sentenced to six months in jail this year over a separate incident in Liverpool city centre.