London: Queens Park Rangers have dumped Joey Barton as their captain and fined him 420,000 pounds, but the club failed in their attempts to sack the midfielder for his behaviour during QPR’s final game of the season at Manchester City.
Barton kicked out at Sergio Aguero and tried to headbutt Vincent Kompany after being dismissed for elbowing Carlos Tevez
QPR’s action comes after the FA hit Barton with a 12-match ban for his tantrum.
Following an internal investigation into the incident, a club statement read: “Queens Park Rangers Football Club can confirm Joey Barton has been fined six weeks’ wages and will no longer be club captain.
“The 29 year-old midfielder will also be absent from the club’s pre-season tour of Asia in July. The club has also reached agreement with Barton that if he seriously breaches the club’s disciplinary procedures again, the club reserves the right to terminate his contract.”
QPR is determined to ship Barton out of the club one way or another and hoped his violent tirade would have opened the door to terminating his contract, reports said.
However, after taking legal advice the club were informed they did not have sufficient grounds to sack Barton, who tweeted on Monday: “I was reckless and deserved every punishment I received. Money comes and goes, it’s not important to me. Losing the captaincy and missing 12 games is what really hurts.”
“I was stupid and that’s what happens when you do dumb things. I am confident I’ll bounce back, can’t wait. I wish to put it behind me now and help QPR, once available of course, push on towards the top half.”
ANI
First Published: Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 16:08