Barton lashes out at conference

[Justin_3d 1,140]

Barton: Shared his opinions at Monday's press conference

Joey Barton entirely lived up to his reputation for outspoken honesty on Monday with attacks on Ryan Giggs, John Terry and the England rugby team.

Despite sharing a stage with four other speakers at Monday's Professional Players Federation national conference, Barton completely dominated the discussion, giving forth views on matters such as the right to privacy, social media, the Royal Family, the London riots, MPs expenses, and the Hillsborough disaster.

But it was his comments on fellow professionals Giggs and Terry and England's shamed rugby stars that were perhaps the most inflammatory.

The QPR captain hit out at Manchester United star Giggs' alleged affair with his own sister-in-law, saying: "The Giggs issue in any walk of life is not right.

"The behaviour of the man towards another man, towards his brother, it's not right, regardless of the player."

Barton also questioned Giggs' response to his name becoming public on the internet after an injunction was granted preventing it being published by traditional media.

"What blew it up for Giggs was when he threatened to sue Twitter - bad legal advice," Barton said.

"I don't think anybody in the world's got the kind of money to get that case through.

"Everyone on Twitter got defensive about their right to freedom of speech."

Barton was equally critical of England captain Terry, who allegedly had an affair with the former partner of then international team-mate Wayne Bridge.

The midfielder said: "There was a human element then about, as a man, what you should do either to your friend at work or one of your colleagues.

"It shouldn't have happened."

Barton also claimed there would have been "public executions" had the England football team behaved like their rugby union counterparts at the current World Cup.

England's dismal campaign in New Zealand lurched from one controversy to another before and after their quarter-final exit, with players criticised for their off-field behaviour.

Barton, who has one international cap, said: "If that was an England football team at a World Cup, there would probably have been public executions when they got home.

"'Football's a gentleman's game played by thugs', I hear quite a lot, and, 'Rugby's a thug's game played by gentlemen'.

"The minute a footballer steps out of line, I think the media in this country - because of the sums of money they earn and also because of the stigma attached - are really quick to jump on it."

Barton, who has a chequered past himself, admitted he had been no angel.

And despite his criticisms, he insisted the media should not have been allowed to publish stories about Terry's transgressions and poured scorn on footballers' status as role models.

"There is a lot of envy about what footballers earn, the astronomical figures," he said.

"That's not our fault.

"I went from being on £300 a week playing in a big league to £6,500 a week.

"No-one taught me how to handle that, no-one taught me how to be a man, I didn't instantly get that wage increase and become a role model.

"I was still the same kid from a working-class council estate."

Barton has become one of the biggest personalities on Twitter thanks to his controversial opinions and he claimed the Football Association had asked him to moderate his language at a recent meeting.

"I feel that the FA came to hush me down or make me not have an opinion," he said.

"If they came to do that, they picked the wrong person, because there's no way I can be like that.

"If I didn't have an opinion, I'd cease to exist."

He added: "If I was to go out and pass comment and say: 'Everyone join this bondage club', then I think we would have an issue.

"But I'm going on there to have an extension of me.

"It sounds really bad when you say it because it just makes you think of Nazi Germany but it is a propaganda machine.

"Social media is a propaganda machine."

sportinglife.com

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Hard to argue with that..

[Justin_3d 1,140]

Yeah.

I will say, that I love Joey Barton. What a character!

And I wish Chelsea had gotten him in the transfer window as a free agent.

[dave30 728]

the guy should never play football again , out of prison onto 60,000 a week and still criticising others .

[Melanicus 5,208]

One of my favourite players at the moment.

[Blue Armour 4,289]

And I wish Chelsea had gotten him in the transfer window as a free agent.

Respect for Barton's candour, but I don't think I would go that far

[Fulham Broadway 16,855]

Horrible scouse fucker, shouldnt be allowed on the pitch, let alone air time to talk shit, and if he didnt have money would have been locked up for a long time ages ago

http://www.guardian....ll-of-dishonour

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Indeed. What was that JT said about glass houses..

[Madmax 9,219]

Strange to hear Barton spout pearls of wisdom on morality and etiquette.

[- 25 - 167]

How he's got the cheek to sit and moralise about anything is beyond me.

[termninja 5,290]

I don't hate him, but I don't like him. He seems very egoistic and looks like he's always trying to be in the center of the attention. Just stick to playing football and shut it...but I have to admit, he does have a point along with ballz and I respect that.

[francozola 2,040]

What's he doing at a Professional Players Federation national conference?

[Spike 12,049]

He is a moron and he is scum, but methinks the man has a bit of a brain on him.

[Peace. 4,352]

I may be a moron and all you want, but he is on point here.

[Fulham Broadway 16,855]

.

.His agents and advisers have tried to reinvent him. Sorry wont wash with me or anyone that has followed his ''career'' Should have had a life ban years ago. Dr Shipman might have been a good GP but he doesnt practice any more.

Funny about hes chastisng players about ''morality'' to fellow men.

''The Frenchman fell to the ground and lost consciousness but Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, continued to reign down blows on him while lying on top of him, Mr Vardon said.

Dabo was treated in hospital for the affects of head trauma, an inflamed eye and bruised eyelids following the attack.

Excerpts from a victim impact statement read to the court told how the Frenchman suffered headaches for three weeks and feared he would suffer permanent damage from the sustained assault.

It was the third time Barton has appeared in the dock this year for violence''

[LDN Blue 7,903]

True FB, Barton is as bad as they come. He wasn't sent to jail for a petty crime either.

Not disputing what Barton's said though, all quite true.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Barton's doing some venting on Twitter....

It's amazing how bad journalism, listens to a debate about super injunctions and social media and a 1000 different opinions yet decides...

.....to pick the one involving Giggs and Terry. I was not judging either of them personally but stating it was wrong of any man regardless..

...his profession to sleep with his brothers wife. It was not a personal attack, just my own opinion. If he thinks it's ok and others do...

...then that's cool. It's just that I was asked and I said I don't, it's my OPINION. The seagulls got there headline but lost self respect.

[Fulham Broadway 16,855]

True FB, Barton is as bad as they come. He wasn't sent to jail for a petty crime either.

Not disputing what Barton's said though, all quite true.

Its hardly revelatory or controversial though is it ? Its not like he said ''Oh Giggs did a brilliant thing by fucking his brothers wife''. No hes just going for some popular support -its like Hitler saying ''oooh that Ghengis Khan was a badass wasnt he ? All agree with me ? ''

His PR people trying to make him out to be some misunderstood loveable rogue.

Blokes a violent yob -who should be serving 5-10 years in prison for all the violence and assaults in my opinion.

Only reason he isnt is that hes a valuable commodity because he can play football for a club brand and is a percentage for some parasitical agent.