Former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton avoided immediate prison time on Monday after a Liverpool Crown Court judge handed him a six-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, over offensive attacks on football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko, as well as broadcaster Jeremy Vine. Barton, who has 2.7 million followers on X, was ordered to complete 200 hours of comamunity service and pay £23,419 in court costs. The ruling closes a case that drew national attention to how online “banter” can cross into targeted abuse, especially towards women in sports media.
Judge Andrew Menary KC described Barton’s conduct as a “sustained campaign of online abuse that was not mere commentary but targeted, extreme and deliberately harmful.” He stressed that while heated debate is fair game, Barton’s posts went far beyond acceptable speech. The judge also imposed two-year restraining orders preventing Barton from mentioning Ward, Aluko, or Vine on social media or in broadcasts. Any violation would activate the suspended jail term.
The controversy began in January 2024 after an FA Cup match between Crystal Palace and Everton, which Ward and Aluko analysed live on air. Barton compared the pair to “the Fred and Rose West of football commentary,” referring to Britain’s notorious killer couple, and circulated an image of their faces photoshopped onto the Wests. A jury cleared him of the comparison itself but convicted him for the image, ruling it “grossly offensive.”
Barton also directed racially charged remarks toward Aluko, a former England player and Black woman, calling her a “diversity hire” and dismissing diversity initiatives as “a load of sh.” The judge noted that these comments demonstrated hostility based on race. Barton further compared her commentary to dictators “murdering” fans’ ears, though jurors did not convict on that charge.
Jeremy Vine became a target after he privately asked Barton whether he had “a brain injury.” Barton responded publicly, calling him a “bike nonce” a slur implying child abuse and even hinted that Vine had links to Jeffrey Epstein, writing that he would “call the police if I saw you near a primary school on your bike.” Vine told the court that the attacks were “profoundly traumatising” and that the ripple effect of Barton’s large following made matters worse.
Following a five-day trial, the jury convicted Barton on six of 12 charges under the Malicious Communications Act, covering posts made between January and March 2024. While Barton insisted his intention was to speak honestly, the court concluded his conduct crossed into criminal abuse. His lawyer, Simon Csoka KC, argued that Barton now recognises how damaging online speech can be and expressed remorse.
Barton, born in 1982 in Huyton, Merseyside, launched his career with Manchester City in 2002, appearing more than 150 times before joining Newcastle United in 2007. His playing days mixed quality with controversy including FA charges for violent conduct and even jail time in 2008 for assault. He later played for QPR, Marseille, Burnley, and Rangers before retiring in 2017 after a betting ban. He then moved into management with Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers up to 2022.
Away from the pitch, Barton has long courted headlines. Complaints were filed to police in 2023 over sexist attacks on women pundits, including Aluko, who has said the harassment hurt her career. His large platform on social media has amplified his opinions but also created frequent storms, especially where women and minorities in football media are concerned.
As Barton left court, he said, “If I could turn back the clock I would.” His lawyers emphasised personal growth, though the judge cautioned that time would reveal whether the lesson has truly landed. With restraining orders, a suspended sentence, and community service ahead, Barton’s online persona now sits under far closer scrutiny.