Newcastle relieved as FA take no action on Barton

Newcastle were relieved Thursday after The Football Association said Wednesday it would not be taking any action against Joey Barton following allegations the Newcastle midfielder had racially abused Aston Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor.

With neither Agbonlahor or his club wishing to pursue the matter the FA, which can take action by itself without receiving a complaint, decided against any further moves.

The news means Barton can travel to Fulham for Sunday’s English Premiership encounter without the threat of further censure – music to the ears of United’s interim coach Joe Kinnear.

“Joey was outstanding in the game on Monday,” which Newcastle won 2-0 to exit the drop zone.

“Him and and Nicky Butt are the heartbeat of our side,” the Newcastle Journal on Thursday quoted Kinnear as saying.

“The pair of them have been superb and have given us a real platform to build on in the games since I’ve been here. Their performances are giving everyone confidence and you can see everyone else rising up and getting a lift because of their performances.”

The FA had earlier explained its reasons for not pursuing Barton further over Agbonlahor.

“The FA wrote to Aston Villa this (Wednesday) morning to ask for any information the club could provide regarding allegations reported in today’s media of remarks made by Joey Barton to Gabriel Agbonlahor during Villa’s match against Newcastle on Monday,” a statement read.

“The club has responded to inform us that they have no complaints to make. On this basis, the FA will not be pursuing this matter.”

The FA had confirmed on Tuesday that Barton would not be charged for apparently flicking his fingers into the face of Agbonlahor during Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Villa at St James’ Park on Monday, a result which took the Magpies off the bottom of the Premier League table.

Reports in the British press subsequently suggested that Barton may have racially abused the striker.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill said Agbonlahor did not wish to take the matter any further.

“Gaby doesn’t want to talk about it and he doesn’t want to press charges,” O’Neill said. “That’s what he said to me yesterday (Tuesday) and he reiterated that this (Wednesday) morning.

“I’ve just heard, regardless of what Gaby does or doesn’t say, the FA would like to hear what sort of comments we have to make on an official basis.

“That’s fine, if we have a couple of days to have a look at things, then that’s exactly what we’ll do.

Barton’s career has been blighted by a series of controversial incidents and he is currently playing under the threat of a six-match suspended ban.

This follows his return to action three games ago after serving six games of a 12-game ban imposed after a training ground incident involving former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

The remaining part of the ban will come into force should Barton be dismissed for an offence of violent conduct before the end of next season.

Barton recently served 74 days in prison for assaulting a 16-year-old boy.