Former footballer Joey Barton, known for his time at Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Rangers, was sentenced this Monday to six months of suspended imprisonment for sending “seriously offensive” messages through the social network X, where he has 2.5 million followers.

The messages were directed at former footballers and analysts Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, as well as presenter Jeremy Vine, with whom he is prohibited from contacting. The Liverpool court found him guilty on six of the twelve charges against him, in addition to imposing community service. During the trial, Barton, 43, claimed to be the victim of “political persecution” and denied seeking notoriety or interaction on social media. However, the jury determined that the former midfielder “crossed the line between freedom of expression.”

Lawyer Peter Wright KC reinforced this position, stating: “Everyone has the right to express their views, but not to make posts that go beyond what is tolerable in society.”

Barton maintained in court that his posts were “dark and stupid humor” and “crude jokes,” insisting that he did not intend to implicate Vine when he suggested it had an interest in children.

This is not his first legal sanction: in March of this year, he was already sentenced to the equivalent of 12 weeks in jail for assaulting his wife in London in 2021. Although he did not go to prison, he did spend a night in jail. The new sentence will be suspended for 18 months, provided he does not reoffend.