JOEY BARTON’S 18-MONTH ban from football for breaching betting rules has been reduced by almost five months following an appeal.

The former Burnley midfielder’s suspension has been cut to 13 months and one week on appeal — it now expires on 1 June 2018 instead of 25 October 2018.

The English FA handed Barton an 18-month ban over betting offences in April, and he was fined £30,000.

The 34-year-old admitted a charge relating to 1,260 bets he placed on football matches over a 10-year period between 2006 and 2016.

Barton though, decided to appeal the length of the ban, labeling it as ‘excessive’ and saying that he is addicted to gambling.

The hearing took place in Wembley last week, and The FA today released a statement explaining the decision:

“The Appeal Board has upheld an appeal by Joey Barton against the Independent Regulatory Commission’s decision to suspend him for 18-months and fine him £30,000 after he broke FA betting rules.

“Barton admitted to placing 1,260 football-related bets between 26 March 2006 and 13 May 2016 and was sanctioned following an FA hearing in April this year.

“Following an Appeal Board hearing last week, where he challenged the suspension from football and all football activity, the sporting sanction has been reduced and will now expire on 1 June 2018, instead of the original decision expiry of 25 October 2018. The fine of £30,000 remains the same.”

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