Footballer Joey Barton arrested for assault following all-night drinking session
The career of shamed England footballer Joey Barton was in jeopardy again after he was arrested over an alleged assault following an all-night drinking session.
The Newcastle United midfielder spent yesterday in police cells after being picked up in the early hours following his team's 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic.
The incident is the latest in a string of scandals involving Barton, 25, who is regularly in trouble on and off the pitch. He is currently awaiting trial over a training ground fight with a team-mate at his former club Manchester City.
According to police sources, Barton was spotted on CCTV cameras in his home-town of Liverpool allegedly 'acting aggressively and bouncing from one group of people to another, apparently looking for a fight' at around 5.30am.
Officers were called and found two men who had allegedly attacked by Barton, whose brother Michael, 18, was convicted of the racist murder black A-level student Anthony Walker, and two of his companions.
They claimed they were assaulted by the footballer during a 'scuffle' outside a mobile phone shop on Church Street - the city's main pedestrianised shopping thoroughfare.
Last night police refused to reveal exactly what injuries the pair suffered or whether they needed hospital treatment.
However, a spokeswoman for Merseyside police confirmed that a 25-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault, as well as a 19-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman.
Barton was allowed time to rest before officers began questioning him at Liverpool's St Anne Street police station yesterday evening. He was also expected to be tested for illegal drugs.
Barton, who earns £45,000-a-week, is believed to have been partying with friends in his native city after being ruled out of Newcastle's match on Wednesday night with an ankle injury.
It was unclear whether the player had been given special permission to stay in the North West by manager Sam Allardyce or had been out against the club's wishes. The rest of the Newcastle team travelled back to the North East after the game and reported for morning training as usual.
Barton's arrest is the latest scandal to beset the troubled Liverpudlian, who is more famous for his bad behaviour on and off the pitch than for his footballing skills.
He is already awaiting trial for assault in June next year following a training ground bust up with his former team-mate at Manchester City, Ousamane Dabo.
The 30-year-old French international was floored and suffered bleeding after allegedly being repeatedly punched in the face by Barton. He was suspended for the rest of the season and fined a record four weeks' wages - £100,000 - before being sold to Newcastle over the summer.
Two months earlier he had been arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage after an argument with a taxi driver and in December 2004 was fined £60,000 by the club for stubbing a cigar out in the eye of junior team-mate Jamie Tandy at a Christmas party.
He was also sent home from a preseason tour of Thailand two summers ago following an altercation with a 15-year-old Everton fan.
Barton's behaviour on the pitch has also caused him to come in for criticism. In September last year he caused controversy for pulling down his shorts and exposing his bottom at an Everton fan during a match at Goodison Park, and, more recently, has been slammed for kicking a Sunderland player in the private parts during a game.
Although he has not spoken to his brother Michael, 18, since he was 14, Barton has also come in for abuse by rival fans over his sibling's role in the murder of Anthony Walker two years ago.
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