The depressing tirade of Joey Barton continued this week, with the ex-footballer making more shocking comments about female football pundits.
Barton first took to social media last month to share his view that women should not be speaking "with any authority" on men's football. He has since shared clips slamming various pundits for what he deems to be less-than-satisfactory coverage.
The initial comments from Barton rightly earned significant backlash to begin with, but his crusade has been ramped up by a shocking degree this week.
On Thursday night, ITV showed the FA Cup third-round tie between Crystal Palace and Everton, with Eni Aluko in the studio and Lucy Ward on commentary. In response to this lineup, Barton shared a shocking tweet comparing the pair to notorious British serial killers Fred and Rose West.
ITV has since responded to and utterly condemned the shocking comments from Joey Barton, as has former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.
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ITV and Gary Neville call out Joey Barton for shocking remarks
After Joey Barton targeted two of their pundits in shocking fashion earlier this week, ITV Sport released a strong statement on Friday evening. They declared their support of Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward and slammed Barton's "contemptible" remarks.
A message from ITV Sport. pic.twitter.com/6To8BkNWc1
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 5, 2024
Sometimes-ITV pundit and Manchester United legend Gary Neville reposted ITV's statement with comments of his own.
Neville said that Barton's distressing remarks had "gone too far," and said that few understood how hard it was for women to break into football at the highest level even without such vile comments:
Well done ITV. It’s gone too far this and mentioning serial killers is quite simply incredible.
My daughters have watched Salford City with me for 10 years and like to comment on football, my mum was kicked out of the football team ( boys in the 1960’s) and stopped playing due to mysogyny , my sister struggled for funding for her sport for years and my brother was mocked when he took over the England women’s team. I come from a family that has fought these issues for years and I’ve witnessed it first hand.
All this does is just discourage and it’s not the way forward. It’s bloody hard work for Women to succeed in sport and media as it is without this stuff.
Well done ITV. It’s gone too far this and mentioning serial killers is quite simply incredible.
My daughters have watched Salford City with me for 10 years and like to comment on football, my mum was kicked out of the football team ( boys in the 1960’s) and stopped playing due… https://t.co/dzFxeete0b— Gary Neville (@GNev2) January 5, 2024
Barton has since responded to Neville's tweet with a typically bizarre rambling response targeting ITV more specifically, and it appears as though his motion to remove female pundits and hosts from men's football will not stop here.
Joey Barton's month of ranting against female pundits has drawn reaction from all over the football world, including from Chelsea manager Emma Hayes and ITV presenter Laura Woods, and widespread condemnation on social media.
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