Joey Barton charged after latest misdemeanor

Newcastle midfielder thumped Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen last night.

JOEY BARTON WAS this afternoon charged with violent conduct by the FA after he punched Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen last night.

The Newcastle midfielder has been charged by the FA after the match referee, Michael Jones, viewed video evidence of the 50th-minute incident during last night’s 2-1 Premier League defeat for the Magpies at St James’ Park.

An FA statement said:

Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has today been charged with violent conduct by the FA following an incident in his side’s fixture with Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday 10 November.

Barton has until 6pm on Friday 12 November to reply to the charge and under the FA’s fast-track regulations, may admit the charge and accept a standard three-match suspension.

The Telegraph have a comprehensive run-down of Barton’s form, which includes:

stubbing a lit cigar into the eye of young team-mate during Manchester City’s Christmas party.
breaking the leg of 35 year-old pedestrian while driving his car at 2am in Liverpool city centre.
getting arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage in an incident involving a taxi driver. He is later charged with criminal damage, which he denies.
getting arrested in Liverpool city centre in connection with an allegation of assault. He later admits assault and affray and is jailed for six months at Liverpool Crown Court.

We could go on. Check out the complete rap sheet here.

In the meantime, the latest misdemeanor – last night’s Bruce Lee-like one-inch punch on a Swede with frosted tips – is below. What an angry young man.