Joey Barton responded to claims made by former England international Eni Aluko that she had left the UK because of the comments made by Barton in recent weeks.
Barton has made statements against female football analysts in the game and pointed out Aluko in particular.
Barton took to X (formerly Twitter) and replied to Aluko’s video that she has posted on the social media:
“Cry me a f****** river. I was waiting for the victim card to be played. Eni, sorry luv, you’re dreadful as a pundit.
“Tone deaf, can’t count and most importantly you know next to nothing about men’s football. You should have ran off to a desert island after your ‘Arteta phoning Pep to put a bid’ in nonsense. Everyone is laughing at you. Not just me.”
Barton referenced remarks made by Aluko last summer when she said in an effort to persuade the owners of Arsenal to present a counter offer, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had called Pep Guardiola of Manchester City to request that the manager submit a proposal for Declan Rice to West Ham.
In an emotional message this week, Aluko said:
“Now, I’m open and honest and I’m human and I’m more than happy to admit I’ve been scared this week.
“I’ve genuinely been scared this week. I didn’t leave my house until Friday and I’m now abroad. Because it’s really important to say that online abuse has a direct impact on your safety and how you feel and how safe you feel in real life.
“I’ve felt under threat this week. I’ve felt like something is going to happen to me. And I don’t say that for anyone to feel sorry for me – I say that for people to understand the reality and the impact that hate speech has. The impact that racism has. The impact that sexism has. The impact that misogyny has on all of us females in the game, in sports broadcasting.”
Barton slammed Aluko and former Leeds striker Lucy Ward for their punditry duties on ITV on Everton’s 0-0 FA Cup third-round match with Crystal Palace at the beginning of January.
Barton wrote: “How is [Aluko] even talking about Men’s football. She can’t even kick a ball properly. Your coverage of the game EFC last night, took it to a new low. Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, the Fred and Rose West of football commentary.”
I must admit I don’t like women commentators . Nothing to do with their knowledge etc it’s their voices that do my head in. Think there’s only Gabby Logan that I don’t mind. Most of the others screach, rabble on and get on my wick .
To be honest it’s just that all the excitement of a game is lost when women do the commentary or punditry. I don’t care what they know or don’t know but, to have to turn off the sound every time there is a woman’s voice doing the commentary etc , ruins a good game of football.
yea agree with you there
yes . Agree there
Totally agree 👍
Ur spot on
Couldn’t agree more. More woke nonsense from the powers that be.
Well said Joey Barton.You and Matt le Tissier are legends . I hope you both keep doing what you do !
Joey, there are ways, and there are ways. Abuse never gets the point across because ppl focus on the abuse not the content. I am aware you are an intelligent bloke surely you can see this and just move on now, you have more than made your point and have lots of male support who find it awkward listening to female pundits/commentators but enough is enough now honestly.
How’s it abuse if he is stating facts ?
Not all men make great pundits, you check Phil Neville when started off, it was awful. He has improved a tad thou.
Some women pundits are there on merit, others are there because of a they fill a quota for diversity, inclusion etc.
He’s not intelligent at all, if he was he’d make his point without being offensive . His tv interview about the young man murdered in Liverpool showed exactly what he is. ‘He was probably murdered because was Black’ , shows what he is
Sky are killing the once great game…
the amount of work.en commentators at men’s football is disportionate on Sky more women then men these days every fan on Sky is getting sick if it I guess the viewing figures have gone down
Not a fan of Barton but…. He is bang on the money!
When men have an opinion it’s either misogyny or racist but when woman have an opinion it’s OK…..just saying !!!
Just saying complete nonsense.
Joey Barton is an idiot his football career is bad like his big mouth never liked him don’t have an respect for the guy 🙄
what a complete crock of sh.t !! hate speech he was merely stating facts !! played the misogimy race and sexist card all in one go bravo for that now off you pop and leave punditry to the grown ups !!
The possibility of sexism and misogyny, maybe, Barton could be accused of that – but Hate Speech and Racism? That is layering on a whole new level of offence that just not there in what he said at all. Furthermore, the last time I looked, Lucy Ward was white. Basically, he has been a bit cruel about the punditry skills but in responding with allegations of a bunch of ‘isms’, that is where my sympathy ended.
Hate Speech and Racism? That is layering on a whole new level of offence that just not there in what he said at all. Furthermore, the last time I looked, Lucy Ward was white. Basically, he has been a bit cruel about the punditry skills but in responding with allegations of a bunch of ‘isms’, that is where my sympathy ended.
Ok Barton you have had your say leave the girls alone now. your nothing special yourself
Not a fan of Joey Barton but he is correct about women commenting on mens football, I hate it and wish women would stick to the womans game.
correct !!
What hes said is what 95 per cent of the male population are thinking
He’s right, most don’t like women pundits, not presenters , there fine to present the show or game , asking the questions ,but been an ‘expert’ is ridiculous, that’s the difference, present ,not comment
Thing what’s got me over all of this is ‘Player of the match’ not man of the match
This comes from someone who won nothing, played 12 minutes international football and stubbed a lit cigar into a team mate.
Think I’ll pass on his words of wisdom
Have to agree. There is no earthly reason for women to be compelled to turn up at every game as a pundit. If I was a woman I’d feel like I was a token guest, put there by the BBC so as not to be labelled sexist. There is nothing sexist about having all-male pundits in men’s football and all-female in the WSL. It makes my blood boil. It is a different game. I too dislike women commentators and often turn the sound down. There is something really annoying about a woman’s voice when she gets a bit excited. The WSL is only just out of nappies and up until a few years ago it was a joke. Now, they are asked to comment on a game far removed from theirs; to comment on situations that they have never been in. You have to have experience to be a pundit and the women’s game is so far behind that it’s ludicrous. I’m more annoyed at the TV channels that are so damn scared at upsetting the snowflakes. Terms like ‘low block’ have been adopted almost in sympathy. It’s a term that has never been used in over 100 years of the men’s game. When Graeme Souness questioned the term on TV he was vilified and it’s a term that is now commonplace. Sometimes you just need to stop this need to be seen to be doing the ‘right thing’. I have no issue with women presenters, but this insertion into the men’s game has to stop. Surely women would rather be there on merit and not necessity?
I believe women should stick to women’s football, the media think a pretty face will get more viewers, well certainly not with football. There seems to be an agenda with the media the FA and premier league trying to somehow join mens and womens football together it will fail because there incompatible. Its good to hear people like Joey Barton who was a top player and knows very much about football voicing the truth.
Hes a Scouse idiot who needs to shut who cares what a 2 nd rate footballer thinks he was a shit player and a shit human
Women should be banned from football false stop . Playing , commentating and actually attending football matches .
I’m not an Aluko fan but Barton is nothing more than a thug. He has a long history of thuggish behaviour and those that defend him ought to take a long hard look at themselves.
As for those who use the word woke suggesting they’ve got the faintest idea what it means are just parroting clichés that appear in the hard of thinking tax dodging press. The same people who look down their noses at you for being so gullible.
I agree he is a thug , but in this instance he is a thug that’s is right!!!
Spot on Joseph,…..even though you’re a clown and a bully and a shit baller, you have a point. His time.
99.9 % of men don’t want to women to commentating on men’s football and most women don’t to listen to women commentating on men’s football.