Banned Barton says sorry for Pedersen punch

Newcastle United’s Joey Barton apologised on Thursday for punching Blackburn Rovers’ Morten Gamst Pedersen after being banned for three games by the Football Association for violent conduct.

The 28-year-old was charged by the FA after referee Mike Jones viewed video evidence of the incident, which he did not see when it took place in the 50th minute of Rovers’ 2-1 Premier League win at St James’ Park on Wednesday.

Hours after the FA charged Barton on Thursday, he accepted the standard three-game ban for violent conduct without the need for a hearing and apologised for the incident.

Barton, who will now miss Saturday’s match at home to Fulham, next weekend’s trip to Bolton and the visit of champions Chelsea to St James’ on November 28, said in a statement: “I fully accept that I was in the wrong on this occasion and accept the charge that the FA have brought against me.

“I would like to apologise to (Newcastle manager) Chris Hughton, my team-mates, our supporters and of course to Morten Gamst Pedersen and Blackburn Rovers.

“This season, I have really been enjoying my football and although I have been on the receiving end of a few robust challenges, I have, up until now, remained calm in the face of provocation and just carried on with the game.

“But I hold my hands up, I reacted badly to the situation on Wednesday night and I deeply regret it.”

Barton added: “I have been working very hard to keep that side of my game under control and I think it has showed in the way I have been able to get on and enjoy my football this season.

“I look forward to trying to get back into the team once my suspension is over and helping the club maintain its good start to the season.”

Barton has had several previous run-ins with football disciplinary chiefs and, before he accepted the violent conduct charge, Hughton was concerned the player’s record might lead him to be judged more harshly than he deserved on this occasion.

“I have seen it again and I am aware that he has raised his hands, but I am also very conscious that because it’s Joey Barton, there will be far more made of it than any other individual,” Hughton told reporters on Thursday.

“This is an individual who not so long ago the television was showing him being kicked from pillar to post around a football ground.”

Barton’s conduct has led to him previously being jailed for six months after admitting common assault and affray in 2008 following a late-night incident in Liverpool city centre.

In 2004 he stubbed a lit cigar into the eye of then Manchester City team-mate Jamie Tandy during the club’s Christmas party.

Three years later he was suspended by City after a training ground clash with Ousmane Dabo that left his team-mate needing hospital treatment.