Skip to main content

On this day in 2008: Joey Barton banned by FA over Ousmane Dabo incident

Soccer – Barclays Premier League – Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle United – Ewood Park
(Image credit: David Howarth)

Joey Barton was given a 12-match ban, six of which were suspended, by the Football Association on this day in 2008 following an attack on former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

Barton pleaded guilty to a charge of violent conduct from the FA and was hit with a £25,000 fine in addition to his lengthy suspension, with six of the matches suspended for two years.

Soccer – FA Barclays Premiership – Reading v Manchester City – Madejski Stadium

Manchester City’s Ousmane Dabo was involved in a training-ground fight with Joey Barton in 2007 (Rebecca Naden/PA)

Dabo released details of the fight to the media and requested that police press charges against his team-mate Barton, who was arrested and bailed before he was later charged with assault.

Barton was given a four-month suspended prison sentence, told to pay £3,000 in compensation to Dabo and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.

The incident saw the Man City academy graduate suspended by his club and fined £100,000, which eventually resulted in him departing to sign for Newcastle.