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Joey Barton boasts ‘I feel better’ after being found NOT guilty of attacking rival in tunnel at the end of match

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JOEY Barton said he feels “better” after being found not guilty of attacking a rival manager after a match, leaving him bloodied and with a broken tooth.

The Bristol Rovers’ manager was cleared at Sheffield Crown Court of pushing then-Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel in the tunnel after a League One game in April, 2019.

Joey Barton has been found not guilty of assaulting a manager in the tunnel at the end of a matchCredit: PA
Barton was cleared of assaulting Daniel Stendel, who was Barnsley manager at the timeCredit: PA

Former England international Barton, 39, denied shoving Stendel at Oakwell Stadium after his Fleetwood Town team lost 4-2.

Barton gave evidence in court last week.

Stendel told a jury he was walking down the tunnel when he was knocked over by a push from behind, causing him to hit his face on the metal structure.

Video footage shown during the trial showed Stendel entering the tunnel followed by Barton jogging a moment later.

The jury took less than two hours to find Barton not guilty of one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a week-long trial.

Barton thanked the jury before leaving the courtroom.

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After leaving the court, Barton said: “I think the verdict speaks for itself.”

Asked how he felt, he said: “Better than I did before.”

The 10-person jury heard how the incident in the tunnel happened after a second half which featured tensions between the coaching staff of the two sides, with Fleetwood Town’s assistant manager, Clint Hill, receiving a yellow card.

Jurors were shown mobile phone footage of the handshake between the two managers at the end of the match during which, Stendel told the jury, Barton was aggressive towards him.

Barton admitted using “industrial language” during the handshake, but denied he was aggressive, and said there had not been tensions between the two managers during the match.

BARTON CLEARED

He explained that he had only tried to explain to Stendel that, if they did not control their coaching staff, they might be personally liable to substantial fines from the league.

Barton pointed out that, after the handshake, he had a friendly chat with a Barnsley player about his time playing for the French team Marseille and also the referee, before he headed for the tunnel.

He said he began to jog because he wanted to get into the dressing room ahead of his players.

And he said the video footage showed him weaving through the crowded tunnel towards the stand.

Barton stood in the dock for the verdict wearing a dark suit over a white shirt with a dark tie.

He was immediately told he could leave the court by Judge Jeremy Richardson QC.

The ex-Premier League midfielder started his career with Manchester City in 2002 after going through their youth system and went on to make 150 appearances for the club.

He then moved to Newcastle United for £5.8million in July, 2007 before leaving for Queens Park Rangers in August, 2011.

The midfielder was then put on loan to French side Marseille during the 2012-13 season before going to Burnley for a season – helping promote them to the Premier League.

Barton made one appearance for England in 2007.

Barton had denied shoving Stendel at Oakwell Stadium after his Fleetwood Town team lost 4-2Credit: PA

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

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