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Newcastle's Joey Barton arrested on assault charge

Newcastle United's Joey Barton, left, avoids a challenge from Sunderland's Ross Wallace during their English Premier League match in Sunderland, England, on Nov. 10. PHOTO: AP

Controversial Newcastle United and England midfielder Joey Barton was charged with common assault and fighting in public, Merseyside Police said yesterday.

The 25-year-old, who remains in custody, was one of three people arrested in the northwest English city on Thursday in connection with an allegation of assault.

He was due to appear at Liverpool City Magistrates Court later yesterday alongside the two others, who were both also charged in connection with the same incident.

Nadine Wilson, 27, was also charged with common assault and fighting in public, while 19-year-old Andrew Barton was charged with causing actual bodily harm and fighting in public. Both were released on bail.

Barton has a history of disciplinary problems.

He has been free on bail over an assault charge after attacking former Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo on the training ground on May 1. Dabo was hospitalized with facial injuries after the incident.

In October last year, he was fined for dropping his shorts and exposing his backside to rival fans after an English Premier League game.

In July 2005, Barton was sent home from Manchester City's tour of Thailand and fined six weeks' wages after a bar fight with a teenage Everton fan.

In December 2005, his 17-year-old brother, Michael, was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for taking part in a racist attack in which two white men killed a black teenager with an axe.

In 2004, Barton started a brawl on the field during a preseason friendly against Doncaster Rovers. He was also fined six weeks' wages for putting a lit cigar into the eye of a young teammate, Jamie Tandy, at Manchester City's Christmas party.
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