Joey Barton Faces New Court Case In 2026 For Defamation Allegations

Joey Barton is facing different tribunal lawsuit and a imaginable defamation and harassment measure for hundreds of thousands of pounds aft being found guilty past week astatine Liverpool crown tribunal of six counts of sending grossly violative societal media messages pinch intent to origin distress aliases anxiety.

The Guardian has learned that nan proceedings successful a civilian lawsuit brought by Eni Aluko against Barton has been scheduled for nan precocious tribunal adjacent May. The erstwhile England guardant is alleging she was defamed successful 2 societal media posts made by nan erstwhile Manchester City and England midfield subordinate and that dozens of different posts by Barton amounted to harassment.

After a preliminary proceeding astatine nan precocious court, Justice Lavender ruled successful April that 2 messages posted by Barton astir Aluko connected X successful January 2024 were defamatory, successful 1 lawsuit because of its innuendo meaning. The astir contentious elements of Barton’s posts were his claims that Aluko played nan “victim card” and “race card”.

Barton was recovered blameworthy past week successful narration to posts directed astatine Aluko, her chap shot broadcaster Lucy Ward and nan broadcaster Jeremy Vine. He denied harassment and seeking to origin distress aliases anxiety.

Barton mislaid a defamation lawsuit past twelvemonth brought by Vine, which has costs nan erstwhile footballer much than £500,000, according to Vine. Although Barton was past week cleared of a further six counts of sending violative messages, he whitethorn activity to settee pinch Aluko alternatively than consequence different ample payout wished successful court.

Aluko’s harassment declare relates to messages sent by Barton erstwhile he waged a lengthy online run against female commentators and pundits past year.

Aluko declined to remark erstwhile contacted by nan Guardian. In a connection released aft past week’s verdict she said Barton’s messages had caused her distress and damaged her media career.

“Social media is simply a cesspit wherever excessively galore group consciousness they tin opportunity things to others they wouldn’t dream of saying successful existent life nether nan guise of state of speech,” she said. “This is simply a reminder that actions online do not travel without consequences.

“The messages directed astatine me, Lucy Ward and Jeremy Vine by Joey Barton were profoundly distressing and had a existent damaging effect connected my life and career. I americium gladsome that justness has been served.”

Barton is owed to beryllium sentenced connected 8 December, pinch his bail conditions prohibiting him from mentioning nan 3 victims earlier then. His ineligible representatives declined to comment.