Former British footballer Joey Barton has been found guilty of sending grossly offensive messages on social media about two former players and a broadcaster.
A jury at Liverpool Crown Court ruled that the 43-year-old had “crossed the line between free speech and a crime” with six posts made on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He was, however, acquitted of six other charges relating to messages allegedly sent between January and March 2024.
The charges concerned posts directed at former England international Eni Aluko, ex-player and pundit Lucy Ward, and BBC presenter Jeremy Vine.
Prosecutors said Barton’s online comments went beyond acceptable expression and amounted to criminally offensive communication.
Barton — who previously played for Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers, and later managed Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers — argued that his posts were provocative or humorous in nature, claiming they were intended as “banter” rather than to cause distress or anxiety.
The former player has faced legal troubles before, including a conviction for assaulting his wife earlier this year and an order in 2024 to pay damages to Jeremy Vine following a separate civil libel case.
After the trial, Barton was convicted on six counts of sending grossly offensive communications and cleared on six others. He is due to be sentenced next month.
