Former Premier League Footballer Joey Barton Contacted by Police
Former Premier League footballer Joey Barton has been contacted by police in England over comments posted on social media. Police in Cheshire confirmed they had received “reports of offences under the Communications Act”. The force said officers had made “multiple attempts” to arrange a voluntary interview with a 41-year-old man from Liverpool.
Police Investigation and Response
In a statement, Mr. Barton mentioned that he had been “visited 4 times in 3 days by Cheshire Police” who he claims had asked for a voluntary interview “about something I’ve tweeted”. He also shared that officers attended his home at 9.30pm when his kids were in bed. Mr. Barton stated that he had provided his solicitor’s contact details to the officers.
Cheshire Constabulary’s Statement
A spokesperson for Cheshire Constabulary confirmed that the force had been contacted by legal representatives, but an interview is yet to be confirmed. Mr. Barton did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Controversy Surrounding Joey Barton
Joey Barton has faced criticism in recent months for his comments attacking female footballers and pundits. He described ITV pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward as “the Fred and Rose West of football commentary”. Former England striker Aluko criticized the social media platform for allowing Mr. Barton and others to “vomit hatred unchecked”. In January, sports minister Stuart Andrew described Mr. Barton’s attacks as “dangerous” and warned they “opened the floodgates for abuse”.