Barton appeal rejected by FA

By foxsports
Published

Barton gave QPR an early lead at Loftus Road before getting involved in a tussle with Bradley Johnson and appearing to headbutt the Norwich midfielder. QPR appealed against the dismissal but the Football Association confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that appeal had failed. An FA statement read: "An Independent Regulatory Commission has today [Wednesday 4 January] dismissed a claim of wrongful dismissal from Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton following his red card for violent conduct in the QPR v Norwich City game on 2 January 2012. "Barton will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect." It means the 29-year-old midfielder will miss Saturday's FA Cup tie at MK Dons, the Premier League clash away to former club Newcastle the following Sunday and the home match against fellow strugglers Wigan on January 21. Within minutes of the FA decision being announced, Barton responded on Twitter: "Just seen Clint Dempsey with Craig Bellamy for 1st time, the hypocrisy is borderline incredible IMO." Dempsey and Bellamy went head to head in Fulham's 1-0 win over Liverpool at Craven Cottage on December 5 after the American reacted angrily to a challenge, with both players receiving yellow cards. Reds boss Kenny Dalglish later said of the incident: "Dempsey put his head in Craig's face. When we asked the referee why the wee man was booked, he said 'Craig knows' - but he didn't know."