A WORLD champion kickboxer has called out Joey Barton and accused him of “bullying” his 17-year-old footballer daughter.
Former Premier League midfielder Barton, 41, has hit the headlines and been slammed as sexist over recent months for remarks on social media.
Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine is suing the ex-footballer for calling him a “bike nonce” and accusing him of spreading lies about the Covid jab.
He is also facing legal action from football pundit Eniola Aluko after he likened her and fellow ITV broadcaster Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West.
Now Barton has angered Lex Easdon, a seven-time world kickboxing champion, after the ex-Manchester City and Newcastle player’s latest outburst.
Easdon’s daughter Ava is a goalkeeper for Partick Thistle Women and she was unable to stop her side from being beaten 4-1 by Rangers Women in the SWPL Cup final on Sunday.
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The game was shown live on Sky Sports and unfortunately the youngster – who is still at school – went viral afterwards as social media user’s mocked her positioning for the first goal.
Barton could not resist joining in as he retweeted the video and wrote: “I mean let’s just talk about the goalie! How is this nonsense on the box?”
But it did not take long for Ava’s dad to hit back on X, writing: “In 2024 and ‘grown’ men still feel the need to belittle and bully a 17-year-old school kid, who doesn’t get paid to play.
“Unlike some men who make the same mistake week after week for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
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“She has moved up from youth level straight into SWPL1, just starting out her journey. She’s made a mistake in her positioning 13 minutes into a cup final.
“@Joey7Barton my daughter is young enough to be your daughter and you playing up to all your young fan boys won’t go down well with your daughters when they’re old enough to see all the s*** you spout on social media. Top class role model there, mate.”
Easdon signed for Partick Thistle on loan from Glasgow City last summer and has also been capped for Scotland at youth level.
She starred last month as her side held Rangers to a draw in the league to end their 13-match winning streak.
Easdon was also named as Partick Thistle’s player of the month for February.
Fans were also quick to defend her after Barton’s post, with one response saying: “Does embarrassing 17 year old school girls make you feel like a big man?
“She’s made a blunder, big deal. No need to highlight it like this. I remember plenty of times you made blunders on and off the pitch.”
Another said: “You bullying a 17 year old girl on the Internet Joseph?
“Does it make you feel like more of a man if you put women and girls down? Do you enjoy causing pile ons? I feel really sorry for you.”
A third wrote: “That’s a 17 year old girl you are making fun of. A school girl who has progressed brilliantly in a few years. Big hard man Joey the keyboard warrior.”
A fourth commented: “At 17 I had left school and had little to no direction in life. Playing in a major cup final at such a young age against one of the biggest and best teams in the country is a phenomenal achievement….
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“You should be very proud of her she will serve as an inspiration to many.”
While a fifth added: “Ava should be really proud of her achievements, not many people her age are playing at the level she is . People like Barton are only trying to seek a name for themselves at the expense of others . Tell Ava to keep her head held high and I wish her every success.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
