Former England and Manchester City star Joey Barton has been charged with alleged “malicious communications” towards pundit and former Nigerian-British footballer Eni Aluko.
In January, the former Premier League footballer compared Aluko and fellow pundit Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West. The following month, Aluko accused Barton of subjecting her to one of the worst cases of social media abuse she had ever experienced, after receiving a stream of vile messages.
Barton had criticized Aluko after she covered Crystal Palace’s FA Cup draw with Everton alongside Ward, writing: “How is she 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.”
Barton further escalated his comments by comparing Aluko to Joseph Stalin, stating she was “murdering hundreds of thousands of fans’ ears.”
Barton is scheduled to appear in court on July 30 after an investigation by Cheshire Police. A statement from Cheshire Police read: “A man from Widnes has been summoned to court to face charges of malicious communications.
Following an investigation by Cheshire Police, the Crown Prosecution Service has since authorized the charges for Joseph Barton. The 41-year-old will appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, July 30. The charges relate to reports of alleged malicious communications online, between Monday, January 1, and Thursday, January 18.”
Responding to the charges, Barton wrote on X: “I’m up next month for a ‘malicious communications’ charge at Warrington Mag for Eni Aluko tweets. Crazy times we’re living in.
Haven’t the police got enough on their hands? British system is becoming a Banana Republic. Lawfare used against its own citizens for having a dissenting voice.”
