Barton lashes out - twice

Joey Barton has hit out at the FA after they handed out smaller bans to Luis Suarez and John Terry than he received for being sent off.

Barton was handed a 12 match ban after his sending off at Manchester City on the final day of last season but that was a stronger penalty than Suarez, eight matches, and Terry, four matches, both received for making racist comments to opposition players in games. Barton, who is currently in France on loan, claims that is wrong and sends out the wrong message."What is the message for kids. "So, if I was insulting to City's players, I would be less punished." Meanwhile, never far from controversy, Barton was involved in an altercation on Tuesday during a friendly between Marseille and Istres, when he was filmed slapping an opponent after being on the receiving end of a couple of hefty challenges. Marseille manager Elie Baup defended his actions, he said: "In his mind, a friendly doesn't exist. He is a competitor, those things can happen."