Former Manchester City star Joey Barton has suffered a new setback in the case he's facing before British courts, after his trial on charges of assaulting a man near a golf course was postponed to next year — meaning he could remain in custody for an additional 6 months before the trial begins, if he isn't granted bail, according to The Sun.
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The former City player had been due to appear before Liverpool Crown Court this week over an incident dating back to March 8, near Houghwood and Prescot Golf Club in Merseyside, but Judge David Potter decided to postpone the case to March 8, 2027.
Barton (44) faces a charge of causing grievous bodily harm, and has pleaded not guilty. He appeared in court today wearing a blue suit and tie, before leaving the dock, giving a thumbs-up gesture toward someone in the courtroom.
Case Details
The case dates back to an evening Barton was spending with Kevin Lynch (51), a former non-league football coach. According to the charge, Lynch was assaulted while they were at the golf club, sustaining injuries to his face and ribs.
Lynch was taken to the hospital, with his condition described as serious but stable, while he still faces the risk of losing sight in one eye due to the injuries he sustained.
Barton is no stranger to controversy throughout his football career. He began his journey with Manchester City in 2002 after coming through the youth ranks, playing 150 matches for the club, before moving to Newcastle United in 2007 in a deal worth £5.8 million (around $7.5 million).
He later played for Queens Park Rangers, and had a loan spell with French club Marseille during the 2012-2013 season, before moving to Burnley, where he helped the club achieve promotion to the Premier League.
In 2016, he joined Scottish club Rangers on a two-year contract, but his spell ended after just 8 matches following disputes with teammate Andy Halliday and manager Mark Warburton. He was also investigated by the Scottish Football Association over betting rule violations.
On the international stage, Barton earned one cap for the England national team in 2007, before moving into coaching after retiring as a player, managing Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers at various points in his coaching career.
