Fleetwood Town manager Joey Barton has been charged with actual bodily harm following a post-match incident in the tunnel at Barnsley on April 13th.
Barnsley made an official complaint to both the Football Association and Football League in April about the incident. South Yorkshire Police had also put out a request for anyone with information relating to, or footage of, the incident to come forward.
Barton has been bailed until October 9th of this year. The former Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers, Burnley, and Newcastle United midfielder is expected to appear before Barnsley Magistrates Cout in relation to the alleged incident on that date.
Police say the incident, after the Tykes beat Fleetwood 4-2 in a League One game at Oakwell, left a man with facial injuries. Barton has previously "emphatically denied" the accusations that he had confronted Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel. Stendel suffered damage to his two front teeth which required emergency dental treatment.
In the wake of the incident, Barton issued a statement on Twitter in which he wrote: “I emphatically deny all the allegations made.” Barnsley striker Cauley Woodrow claimed at the time that the alleged incident had left Stendel with “blood pouring from his face”.
With regards to the alleged incident on Saturday following our game against Barnsley, I emphatically deny all the allegations made. Given this matter has not been formally closed, it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment.
— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) April 18, 2019
In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said: “A man has been charged following an incident at Barnsley Football Club in April 2019.
“Joseph Barton, 36, of Fox Bank Close, Widnes, has been charged with actual bodily harm contrary to section 47 assault and has been bailed to appear before Barnsley Magistrates Court on Wednesday 9 October 2019.
“On Saturday 13 April 2019, a man was left with facial injuries after an incident in the club tunnel around 5pm, following the conclusion of Barnsley’s match against Fleetwood Town.”
Barton guided Fleetwood Town to 11th position in League One last season. He is currently preparing for his second season in charge, after taking over the job last summer.
Fleetwood are scheduled to play Port Vale in a pre-season friendly away from home this evening, after returning from a week-long training camp in Portugal. Their season gets underway on August 3rd away to Peterborough.
