Bristol Rovers will appeal the FA’s decision to issue Joey Barton with a three-match stadium ban following an incident after their League One loss to Sheffield Wednesday at the Mem last month.
Barton is unable to attend the Gas’ first three games of the 2023/24 season, which is likely to include one cup fixture, after the FA found him guilty of three misconduct breaches. A Rovers spokesperson has confirmed to Bristol Live that the Gas will challenge the decision after Barton attended a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.
Under a stadium ban, an individual is forbidden from entering the matchday venue before, during and after a game and cannot communicate with staff at any point. Barton has also been fined £3,000.
The specific details behind the charges haven’t yet been released by the governing body but surround comments he made towards referee Josh Smith after Rovers had been beaten 2-1 by the Owls on April 18.
Barton had been sent off in the 85th minute after protesting to officials following the decision to disallow a John Marquis goal, which would have been an equaliser, for offside. Rovers head of analysis Adam Mahoney was also cautioned by Smith.
Speaking after the game in his post-match press conference, Barton said: “That second goal is key. It’s a legitimate goal and the amateurs in the professional game have struck again. You try and speak to him just to get him to admit he has made a mistake, but they are like traffic wardens, referees. You can’t speak to them.
“It’s frustrating when that throws the game, but we’ve got to be better and not be 2-0 down at half time and get ourselves in the ascendancy.
“I’m not going to bleat on about the referee much more, but it is frustrating when you have got one job to do as a linesman and you can’t even do that correctly.
“It’s very frustrating with the officials because they are a law unto themselves and you’ve got to be careful what you say because they’ll be trying to fine you and get more moments in front of the disciplinary commission, which I’ve had enough of in my history and I don’t want any more of.”
Barton’s ban is the longest he’s received in his managerial career and is one of the most severe handed out to a head coach in the professional game in recent years.
In a statement, the FA said: "The manager admitted that his behaviour after being sent off was improper; and that he subsequently used abusive, insulting and improper words towards a match official in both the tunnel and the match officials' changing room.
"An Independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a hearing and its written reasons will be published in due course. The three match ground ban will apply to first-team competitive fixtures next season."
Jose Mourinho was famously given a one-match stadium in 2015, also for misconduct, due to his language towards officials in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham.
In 2014, three matches of Alan Pardew's seven-game punishment, for headbutting Hull City's David Meyler when he was Newcastle United manager, were stadium-related with an additional four-game touchline ban.
Steve Evans was hit with a six-match suspension in 2012 for "using abusive and insulting words and behaviour" towards a female member of Bradford City's staff while he was in charge of Crawley Town.
A year later, Paul Ince was banned for attending five matches for "violently shoving" and swearing towards a fourth official while he was serving as Blackpool manager. He had previously been warned of his conduct by the FA following comments about match officials.
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