KEY POINTS:
Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton was yesterday remanded in custody until January 3 following his arrest at 5.30am on Thursday (GMT) in Liverpool city centre.
Along with his 19-year-old brother Andrew and a 27-year-old woman, Barton was arrested for assault and affray after an incident outside McDonald's.
Andrew Barton and Nadine Wilson were released on bail yesterday having been questioned on Thursday evening but, due to other outstanding charges of assault, Barton, Newcastle United's £5.8 million (NZ$15m) summer signing from Manchester City, was detained at a prison on Merseyside.
Barton will spend New Year's Eve there, meaning that he will miss not only Newcastle's game at Chelsea overnight but also the visit of his former club, City, to St James' Park on Thursday (NZT).
The case is due back before Liverpool magistrates next Friday. It has been reported that Barton is expected to appear via videolink.
If Barton is found guilty of assault in either case, then his future at Newcastle would be in question, though the club would make no comment yesterday and will not until the legal process is finished.
Barton is said to have undergone a mandatory drugs test while in police custody, as well as tests for levels of alcohol.
"It's been a very tough Christmas and a very tough week for us," the Newcastle manager, Sam Allardyce, said yesterday.
Allardyce knew of Barton's history when he signed the 25-year-old but, like others who have encountered the Liverpudlian, Allardyce knew of a different side to his personality.
Barton's self-awareness has led him to seek help from the Sporting Chance charity - the brainchild of recovering alcoholic and former Arsenal and England star Tony Adams - and his mentor, comedian Peter Kay, tried yesterday to give some context to Barton's social life.
Having flown to Liverpool to see Barton, Kay said: "My support for Joey will never waver. I feel devastated that this side of Joey is the side people see when I am privileged to know a different man.
"When I heard the news I was not totally surprised. I was on the phone to him for an hour and a half the night before and he was troubled about many things. We talked through them.
"He is a terrific bloke but when I saw the incident and that the fact he was locked up, the truth is he has screwed himself up.
"There is always goading of footballers these days and it is something people should not get away with. This year he was on holiday in a club and people were spitting at him. They kept spitting at him, giving him shit. He went to the toilet and took off his watch and his ring and looked at himself in the mirror. He thought about what I would say to him, and left the club with his mates - walked away from it.
"That sort of thing has happened five times at least. We have worked on him walking away. He needs to do it loads of times."
Other professional players may not be so sympathetic but Newcastle have to get on with their season without Barton for at least two more games.
THE BARTON FILES
July 2004: Causes a 10-man brawl while playing for Manchester City in a friendly against Doncaster Rovers after hacking a player.
December 2004: Is almost sacked after youth player Jamie Tandy took exception to him stubbing his cigar out on his outfit. After retaliating with his own lighter, Barton stubbed his cigar in Tandy's eye.
May 2005: He broke a 35-year-old pedestrian's leg while driving his car through Liverpool city centre at 2am.
July 2005: Barton was sent home from a pre-season tournament in Thailand after assaulting a 15-year-old Everton supporter who had provoked Barton by verbally abusing him and kicking his shin.
September 2006: Fined £2000 for baring his backside at Everton fans at Goodison Park.
March 2007: Arrested on suspicion of criminal assault and criminal damage after an alleged argument with a taxi driver.
May 2007: Barton allegedly assaulted his teammate Ousmane Dabo in a training ground accident and is suspended by City.
- INDEPENDENT
