Comment: Football star must learn from jail term

May 21 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

TODAY, Joey Barton should perhaps be reflecting on his sporting achievements during the 2007/08 football season and plotting his professional aspirations for the next one.

Instead, he will be coming to terms with the fact that there are other numbers in the world than the one on the back of his football shirt – such as the one he has now been assigned as a prisoner convicted of "cowardly and sickening attacks" on two people.

Barton should be a young man with the world at his feet.

He has the talent, youth and financial security to ensure his life is an easy one, and he has the opportunity to set a shining example to young people who look up to him.

But he chose instead to embark on thuggish attacks in Liverpool city centre, battering two people in a brutal, alcohol- fuelled brawl. Now he is serving a six- month jail sentence for his role in the sickening attack, which left a 16-year-old youth with broken teeth, and another man recovering from around 20 punches.

Barton is, according to his defence team, an alcoholic who is receiving help. He spent New Year behind bars at Walton prison before being bailed to the Sporting Chance clinic, set up by Tony Adams to help professional sports people beat problems.

But, as Judge Henry Globe, QC, quite rightly pointed out to the court, this young man is also a high-profile footballer who let down himself and his profession by behaving in an "aggressive, disgraceful manner."

No one would argue that Barton richly deserved this punishment. His character is not unblemished, and the evidence to the court showed he was an enthusiastic participant in these shocking street attacks.

Newcastle FC manager Kevin Keegan says the midfielder has matured and become a more reflective individual.

He may not serve the full six months of his prison sentence, but it is to be hoped that Barton uses his time behind bars to grow up, move on and let his not- inconsiderable skills on the pitch make the headlines for a change.