Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on November 7, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleJoey Barton, former soccer player, convicted of offensive social media posts against ex-players and a broadcaster. Sentencing is next month.
LONDON (Reuters) -Former British soccer player and coach Joey Barton was convicted on Friday of six counts of sending offensive social media posts to two ex-players and a broadcaster, though he was cleared of six more charges.
Barton, 43, was charged over X posts sent to former England international Eni Aluko, former player-turned-pundit Lucy Ward and BBC presenter Jeremy Vine in early 2024.
Prosecutors said the messages sent by Barton, who played for clubs including Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers and managed Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers, "crossed the line between free speech and a crime".
Barton had previously made several appearances in court, having been convicted earlier this year of assaulting his wife and in 2024 ordered to pay damages to Vine after a separate civil libel lawsuit.
He argued his posts were provocative or meant to be "banter", and not intended to cause distress or anxiety.
After a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Barton was convicted of six counts but cleared of six other charges. He is expected to be sentenced next month.
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Social media refers to online platforms that allow users to create, share, and exchange content, including text, images, and videos. Examples include Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Corporate governance is the system by which companies are directed and controlled. It involves the relationships among the management, board of directors, shareholders, and other stakeholders.
A financial crisis is a situation in which the value of financial institutions or assets drops significantly, leading to a loss of confidence and potential economic downturn.
A conviction is a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense, typically following a trial or legal proceedings.
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