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Joey Barton was sacked by Fleetwood Town on Monday with the club sat in mid-table in League One.
Owner Andy Pilley reportedly made the decision after a disagreement over the future of striker Ched Evans, who Barton had been keen to offload due to disciplinary issues.
Fleetwood was Barton’s first job in management after a rollercoaster of a playing career.
The former midfielder, who enjoyed spells at Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle and Manchester City, was no stranger to controversy during his time on the pitch.
He leaves Fleetwood under similar controversial circumstances, and Daily Star Sport has picked out a few of the more bizarre moments from his career.
Punching Morten Gamst Pedersen
During his time at Newcastle Uniter, Barton was on the receiving end of an FA charge for violent conduct after he was spoted punching Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pederson in the stomach.
The incident happened after Blackburn had been awarded a free-kick.
Barton appeared to race over to the referee to say something before going past Pederson, who clearly angered him enough for the midfielder to whack him in the stomach.
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Ched Evans bust-up that ended it all
Barton was sacked by Fleetwood on Monday January 4th with the side sat in mid-table in League One.
The manager was eager to offload Ched Evans, citing disciplinary issues, but the club’s owner, Andy Pilley, wanted to keep him.
In the end, the owner spent time reviewing the background of the falling out, claims The Sun, before dropping the axe on Monday.
Evans had been eager to leave Fleetwood, but could now be handed a lifeline by Barton’s replacement, once a decision is made.
Calling out squatters at his home
The majority of Barton’s bizarre incidents have come on the pitch, but one of the more surprising ones came through his social media account.
Back in March 2013, Barton tweeted that some squatters had broken into his house and changed the locks, before vowing to return and sort things out himself.
He tweeted: "Just heard the news some squatters had broken into my house last night and changed the locks."
"Who ever they are, I hope their f****** fast runners."
"For sheer audacity, I have to give them 10/10."
"Luckily for them, I'm trying to give up violence…..#jammyb*******."
Barton takes on Man City… By himself
Due to the historical ending of the Manchester City vs Queens Park Rangers season-ending match in 2013, few remember Barton’s sending off.
The midfielder, who was trying to keep QPR in the Premier League, lost the plot during the second-half of the game and saw red after trying to fight any opposition player he could.
Having started with an elbow to Carlos Tevez’s throat, he then turned his attention to Sergio Aguero, kicking out at the soon-to-be match-winner.
On his way off the pitch he was then seen squaring up to Vincent Kompany and Mario Balotelli, who was still a substitute at that point.
Barton was slapped with a 12-match ban and was shipped off to Marseille on loan the following season.
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That cigar incident
The Manchester City Christmas party in 2004 descended into chaos after youth team player James Tandy decided – for unknown reasons – to play a prank on Barton by lighting his shirt on fire.
Barton didn’t take too kindly to that one, however, and subsequently decided to stub a lit cigar in the youngster’s eye.
Chaos ensued, and Barton was fined six weeks’ wages by City.
Reports suggest the club seriously considered sacking him for his behaviour, and he was made to apologise personally to then-manager Kevin Keegan.
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Ousmane Dabo training ground bust-up
Barton was fined £100,000 back in 2007 after assaulting team-mate Ousmane Dabo out on the training pitch.
The pair were involved in a scuffle on the training pitch which turned nasty after Barton allegedly hit Dabo several times in the head, knocking him unconscious and leaving him with an injury to his eye.
Barton faced criminal charges for the incident, and plead guilty to assault in 2008.
He was slapped with a four-month suspended jail term, as well as 200 hours of community service.
Things went from bad to worse for Barton, who was banned for six matches and fined £25,000 by the FA after he pleaded guilty to violent conduct.
Exposing himself to Everton fans
This one is slightly more light-hearted.
Barton, playing for Manchester City at the time, was receiving a tirade of abuse from the Goodison Park faithful throughout a game in 2006 and decided to give something back.
City scored an injury-time equaliser through Micah Richards, with City players piling over to the away support with glee.
At the final whistle, Barton jogged over to hand his shirt to a young disabled fan, walking back towards the tunnel topless.
At that point, he decided to cheekily expose his backside to the Everton fans.
The FA didn’t see the funny side, however, and fined him £2,000 along with a warning over his behaviour.
- Manchester City FC
- Jurgen Klopp
- Sergio Aguero
- Premier League
- Christmas
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