FA to insist on TV trial for Barton after 'wild assault' in derby clash

The Newcastle midfielder, 25, who is currently bailed to appear at Manchester Crown Court on November 22 charged with assaulting his former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo, will undergo trial by television for an ugly, high tackle on Sunderland's Dickson Etuhu.

On the stroke of half-time in the 1-1 draw, the challenge on Etuhu drew an angry response from the Sunderland player, who was incensed when Barton appeared to plant a boot in his groin — and the pair squared up nose to nose.

Because referee Martin Atkinson took no action, the FA's disciplinary committee could punish Barton retrospectively, with footage of the incident certain to be reviewed at FA headquarters in Soho Square tomorrow.

Barton, who made a delayed start to the season after recovering from injury, will be fearing that football's lawmakers will fine or suspend him after this latest incident.

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce defended his player, whom he bought for £5.8 million in June rom City, admitting that his history of offences would always make him a marked man.

'There were a lot of things that went on in the game, but Joey Barton's reputation goes before him so he's the one player who is questioned,' said Allardyce. 'But it [the tackle] is not good, and he shouldn't do it.'

While admitting that the tackle was a bad one, Sunderland manager Roy Keane refused to condemn Barton.

'I am not going to get bogged down by a tackle that was slightly high,' he said. 'That happens in these games, a lot of them are mistimed. You give and you take. Dickson is a tough lad. He is alive in that dressing room, he won't be leaving on a stretcher.'

While the fight with Dabo six months ago at City's training ground — costing him a £100,000 club fine — is Barton's most serious offence, the crime sheet against his name is a long one.

He came close to being sacked by City when, at the club's 2004 Christmas party, he drunkenly stubbed a lit cigar in the eye of trainee player Jamie Tandy.

The following July, he was sent home from City's pre-season tour to Thailand and fined eight weeks' wages after a scuffle with an Everton fan at the team's hotel.

City captain Richard Dunne was injured during the altercation. Then 13 months ago, Barton was fined £2,000 by the FA for 'mooning' when City played at Everton.

In March this year, he was arrested on criminal assault and criminal damage after an alleged row with a taxi driver.

He has accumulated two red cards and 22 yellow cards in the past two years.