Queens Park Rangers are to appeal against the red card captain Joey Barton received when he was sent off in Monday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at home to Norwich, the club said Tuesday.
"QPR have formally lodged an appeal to the Football Association following Joey Barton's sending off against Norwich...The club will be making no further comment," said a brief statement from the west London side.
Barton, who gave Rangers an early lead at Loftus Road, was sent off in the 36th minute following a tussle with Bradley Johnson that ended with him apparently headbutting the Norwich midfielder.
But after the match Barton, who faces a three-game ban, said officials had been "conned" into showing him a red card.
The midfielder was sent off for the fifth time in his career during a stormy encounter between the two Premier League newboys.
Johnson hit the turf clutching his face as he squared up to Barton, but the QPR midfielder insisted officials had been duped into sending him off.
"Well feel for the officials, they've been conned. Admitted to me at HT they never saw it. I was pulled back 1st, then kicked 2nd!," Barton wrote on Twitter shortly after the final whistle.
"Linesman definitely never saw it, all he seen was Johnsons reaction. My head dosent move forward at all. Ridiculous decision seen 25 replays.
"I'd be 1st to apologise if I'd reacted. Cannot apologise as I know I've not head butted anyone. Disappointed for the lads and the fans.
QPR manager Neil Warnock said he believed officials had been conned by Johnson.
"Who says cheats don't prosper? Bradley has conned him. We feel we have run over a few black cats," Warnock said. "It changed the game completely ... we got punished and we feel a bit aggrieved."
The defeat left QPR hovering just two points above the relegation zone in 17th place, and Warnock's side have now lost five of their last six games.
Source: PA
