ITV pundit calls in lawyers over Joey Barton's 'extremely violent' rant
On December 6, 2023, Barton started the controversy by tweeting: “Women shouldn't be speaking with any kind of authority in the men's game. Come on. Let's be serious.
“It's a completely different game. If you don't accept that. We will always see things differently.
“The women's game is flourishing. Fantastic to see.
“I can't take anything they say seriously in the men's arena.”
His rant on X, formerly Twitter, included saying women commenting on men's football was like him “talking about knitting or netball”.
Barton, 41, defended his comments on Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV – slamming former England and Arsenal footballer Alex Scott.
During her football career she won eight league titles, three WSL Cups, seven FA Cups, one Champions League and two Community Shields.
When asked about her comments, he said: “She wasn't in it.
“One is 200 years old and one is about 40 years old. It's the same rules, but football is about much more than just rules… the matches take place at two different speeds.”
Barton said it was the same when he commented on Formula 1 just because he can drive a car.
He then took to X again to call on Bianca Westwood and Laura Woods for a debate on his new Common Sense podcast, after the pair both shared their thoughts on his comments.
The former midfielder wrote: “You both follow me. And not the other way around. So why the silence?
“Do you both have something to hide?”
'You can come and debate. Just make sure you're ready.
“I take your silence as a sign that you know it's not for you. Shouted from the rooftops yesterday. Today the bushes flutter across the vast expanse. Says it all.'
Neither Woods nor Westwood responded to Barton's taunt – so he increased his efforts by questioning why they chose to remain silent.
He added: “Laura Woods and Bianca Westwood will not be appearing on the show. They're not brave enough. Much to say yesterday?
“You should have kept your head down. Something to hide girls?
“Cat got your tongue today!”
On December 7, 2023, Barton tweeted: “The women's game is absolutely thriving. Great to see. It's a fantastic sport in its own right.
“Really entertaining. Good to watch. Technically and tactically not that much difference.
'Physically. A completely different planet. Until you've experienced that. You can't say what you would have done in that position at that moment. No.
“It has a great English team (that wins things!) It has its own Premier League. It has its own Champions League.
“Please, for the love of God, go comment on that.
'You can say whatever you want. You are qualified to do this. You have actual experience with what is happening.
“The eunuch may not agree. But someone had to say something. I hate that it has to be me….”
On December 8, 2023, he wrote: “If there are top male players, ex-players think I'm wrong. That women are overkill and underqualified in men's expertise and commentary.
'The floor is also open to all of you.
'Like I said: everywhere, always and everywhere.
“Send me the location.
'Two o'clock. No editing.
'Gloves off. Conkers out.”
On December 16, 2023, Barton continued his social media tirade by slamming Football Focus.
Barton said: “36 minutes. Football Focus off. Sorry, it's just awful.
'Chatter and nonsense served with a touch of dullness. No wonder it is canned.
“Well done to all involved. Another flagship destroyed by The Tokens.”
He then targeted SPOTY winner Mary Earps.
On December 20, 2023, Barton tweeted: “So this year's best athlete is… A female goalkeeper. Lost in a few finals this year. Won't win anything.
“So popular that Nike didn't even sell a replica shirt before the tournament.
'You mean to tell me that all those who jumped on that bandwagon didn't vote for the BBC nonsense?
“Good luck to Mary. I hope she earns a few quid.'
Joey then added: “To win ahead of Ronnie O'Sullivan and Frankie Dettori…? Well, that's just madness to me.
'Both almost geniuses in their respective fields. They lost to a big bag of spuds playing in goal for a girls team.”
On December 26, 2023, he tweeted: “Is this female pundit (Finnis-Brown) an international goalkeeper.
'She's at least a foot shorter than a turtle's head and McManaman…
'I would chip her on her leash.
“Why is she talking about the men's game???
“Please stop this nonsense”
On December 31, 2023, Barton posted a tweet from Alex Green, general manager of sports at Amazon Prime, along with the comment: “Good job Alex.
“Can you now get rid of the terribly underqualified, tone-deaf, tokenistic women who are all over your broadcasts right now?
“They ruin the experience for most of us.”
On January 1, 2024, Barton wrote: “How can we not call this out for what it is?
'Women who are underqualified, underprepared and overly stubborn.
“It ruins the experience for millions of football addicts like me.”
On January 7, 2024, Barton claimed that women use “pillow talk” and their “sexuality to gain advantage”.
He posted: “We all know whose marriages you violated. What information you got from the pillow talk to move forward…
“I also don't blame you for using your sexuality to gain advantage. It is a great tool and everyone should use all their tools wisely in the game of life.”
He added: “Don't fool me. Lawyer, sue me. Get me canceled. Put pressure on my employers and my sponsors.
“I have enough to fight you with. I have deeper pockets than most.”
On January 5, Barton posted another sexist rant online, saying: “How does she even talk about men's football. She can't even kick a ball properly.
“Your coverage of the EFC match last night took it to a new low.
“Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, the Fred and Rose West of football commentary.”
Then, on January 17, Barton responded to a clip Aluko posted online, revealing that she fled the country out of fear for her safety after being bombarded with online abuse in the wake of Barton's comments.
Barton commented on the clip on X, saying: “Cry me a Fu**ing river….
“I was waiting for the victim card to be played.
“Eni, sorry honey, you're such a terrible expert.
“Tone deaf, can't count and most importantly: you know next to nothing about men's football.
'You should have fled to a desert island after your 'Areta calling Pep to drop off a bin'.
'Everyone laughs at you.
“Not just me.”
The former Manchester City and Newcastle star wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on January 19: “More has come to light about poor little Eni Aluko. Dad was a Nigerian senator. Unreliable money.
'Fleeed to England. Large house in Wentworth. Three Rolls Royces. St Mary's in Ascot private education. Lawyer. Race card player.”