Newcastle United Football Club News

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• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

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Barton in more hot water

31 Jul 2008 - 16:01:45

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The Football Association has charged controversial Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton with violent conduct following his alleged assault on then Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo 15 months ago.

The incident occurred at City's Carrington training ground on 1 May 2007 and, after pleading guilty to assault, Barton was given a suspended sentence at Manchester Crown Court earlier this month.

A statement on the FA's official website read: "The FA has subsequently received all the relevant documentation following the conclusion of this case and the charge is based on the certificate of conviction.

"Barton has until 13 August to respond to the charge."

Frenchman Dabo said at the time of the incident that Barton had left him looking like the Elephant Man.

He went on: "I've never known anything like this before in my career. I just pushed him away and turned my back to walk off. That's when he hit me.

"I really don't remember exactly what happened but I've been told by all my team-mates he hit me from behind, a right hook which hit me on the temple and knocked me out for a few seconds.

"As I started to fall he jumped on top of me, held my head and punched me twice more in the face.

"Apparently when I was on the floor he again punched me before being pulled off. When I came round, and it can only have been a matter of seconds, there was blood everywhere."

Barton was released from prison on Monday after serving two months of a six-month sentence for assault.

The 25-year-old was convicted of the offence after being filmed punching a man in Liverpool city centre at the end of last year, with the judge telling Barton he had committed a 'violent and cowardly' act.