Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton had to be restrained by members of his own coaching staff in the tunnel of the Mem after he was furious with referee Josh Smith following the Gas’ 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in April.
The Football Association has published its full written reasons behind the Regulatory Commission’s decision to hand Barton a three-match stadium ban and fine the 40-year-old £3,000, imposed on May 17.
Following a hearing this week, in which an appeal by Rovers over the severity of the sanctions was dismissed, it has been confirmed that Barton won’t be able to attend the opening three games of the 2023/24 season - at Portsmouth, Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup and home to Barnsley.
A 10-page report, which you can read in full here, details the three charges against Barton, which comprised: “In or around the tunnel area Mr Barton used abusive and/or insulting and/or improper words towards a match official; thereafter following the issuing of a red card, Mr Barton engaged in behaviour that was improper; and in or around the match officials changing room area, Mr Barton used abusive and/or insulting and/or improper words towards a match official.”
Barton was sent off in the 85th minute of the League One fixture after protesting to officials following the decision to disallow a John Marquis goal, which would have been an equaliser, for offside.
The Rovers manager approached Smith in the tunnel after the game, having previously sworn at the official, before he had to be restrained by Rovers staff. Evidence was provided by referee Smith plus assistants Sam Ogles and Hristo Karaivanov and fourth official Lee Swabey. Barton initially denied two of the three charges before later admitting them and expressing remorse over his actions.
In reaching its decision, the Regulatory Commission considered that: “The sustained abusive language toward the match referee and the improper behaviour in the tunnel was a most serious occurrence and that the use of such language toward any match official was ‘simply unacceptable’ by any participant, let alone the manager of a club. It concluded that it would be reasonable and proportionate to impose both a sporting and financial sanction.”
Barton’s previous history was also considered with three former breaches of Rule E3 in December 2018, December 2019 and February 2020, all while he was in charge of Fleetwood Town.
FA Rule E3 states that: “A Participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words.”
The report added: “Mr Barton plainly has difficulties in controlling intimidating and aggressive expressions of anger when he feels his team has been wronged. Previous sanctions have not proven successful.
“Given that a clear purpose of imposing sanctions is to deter from future misconduct, the failure of past sanctions to achieve this strongly suggests that something more serious by way of penalty is needed. Moreover, the fact that these breaches took place off the pitch, after the match had finished, justifies a sporting sanction that goes beyond the touchline.”
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