Barton apologises but gets three-game suspension
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Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has admitted a charge of violent conduct and apologised to Morten Gamst Pedersen for the punch that will earn him a three-match ban.
Barton had earlier been charged by the Football Association over an incident during the 2-1 Premier League defeat by Blackburn.
Barton said: "I fully accept that I was in the wrong on this occasion and accept the charge that the FA have brought against me. I would like to apologise to Chris Hughton, my team-mates, our supporters and of course to Morten Gamst Pedersen and Blackburn Rovers.
"This season, I have really been enjoying my football and although I have been on the receiving end of a few robust challenges, I have, up until now, remained calm in the face of provocation and just carried on with the game. But I hold my hands up, I reacted badly to the situation on Wednesday night and I deeply regret it.
"I have been working very hard to keep that side of my game under control and I think it has showed in the way I have been able to get on and enjoy my football this season.
"I look forward to trying to get back into the team once my suspension is over and helping the club maintain its good start to the season.''
Barton will miss Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham and the following two games against Bolton and Chelsea.
That will come as a blow to Hughton, who has seen the former Manchester City midfielder establish himself as a key member of the side which currently sits in fifth place in the table despite the Blackburn defeat.
Hughton said: "We accept the action taken by the FA, and it is of course disappointing to lose Joey for three games. He has worked so hard on his game this season, but he knows that he can't react the way he did on Wednesday.''
from soccernet
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Bad Boy Bad boy
wad u gonna do
wad u gonna do
make him 3 match ban
Be4 it come for u
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he just cant help getting into trouble.
how can someone like that be in the sports arena? its a bad bad example to kids.
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barton has a violent gene, history of brutish behavior....his brother is a murderer...