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07th Dec 2023

Joey Barton doubles down on criticism of women commentating on men’s football

Callum Boyle

‘Like me talking about Knitting or Netball’

Joey Barton has doubled down on his comments in which he suggested that women shouldn’t be allowed to commentate on men’s football.

Barton ruffled more than a few feathers with his latest post to X , this time saying that he doesn’t believe women should be able to talk with any authority about men’s football.

Posting to X yesterday, the former Man City and Newcastle United midfielder wrote a number of tweets where he both celebrated women’s football but also said female pundits shouldn’t talk about the men’s game.

More specifically he wrote: “Women shouldn’t be talking with any kind of authority in the men’s game. Come on. Let’s be serious. It’s a completely different game. If you don’t accept that. We will always see things differently.

“The women’s game is thriving. Fantastic to see. I cannot take a thing they say serious in the men’s arena.”

He followed up this original tweet with another, saying: “Any man who sits and engages with them in this regard has sold out. The game is about levels. Most men’s opinion has little value. Never mind anyone else…”

He then added: “Any man who listens to Women commentary or co-comms needs their heads testing…”

As many took to X to blast Barton for his comments, he responded to many individually.

One person responded to Barton, writing: “He’s finished in football and he knows it, Nobody would have him as a commentator, probably angling for a job on GB news now.”

Barton responded to the message, writing: “Been in football since I’ve left school pal. I’ll decide what I do in the game. It actually bores me. Full of sh*tbags. Maggots. Liars. People pleasers. Luckily, I’ve played at a level to earn enough to say and do what the f*ck I want.”

On Thursday, instead of apologising, Barton has now decided to take it one step further and continue his unnecessary attack.

He wrote: “Stand by everything I’ve said on Women commenting and co-comms on the Men’s football. Like me talking about Knitting or Netball. Way out of my comfort zone. Some of the Men are bad enough! We have gone too far. You cannot watch a game now without hearing the nonsense. Any man who says otherwise is an absolute fart parcel.”

One user commented underneath: “Yeah! I mean with Alex Scott in particular, other than her degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting, extensive playing career and lengthy TV experience, what justification could there possibly be for her fronting shows about the men’s game?”

A second added: “Out of all the pundits I’ve listened to recently, find Emma Hayes the most knowledgable on the game, so I guess that makes me a fart parcel.”

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