Liverpool, November 7, 2025 – In a landmark ruling that underscores the boundaries of online expression, former professional footballer Joey Barton was found guilty today at Liverpool Crown Court of six counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communications with the intent to cause distress or anxiety. The 43-year-old ex-player, known for his stints at clubs like Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Olympique de Marseille, was convicted over a series of inflammatory posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where he boasts 2.7 million followers. The targets of his vitriol included prominent broadcaster Jeremy Vine and football pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, highlighting escalating tensions around gender, race, and public discourse in sports media.
The jury of seven women and five men deliberated for approximately eight hours before delivering their verdict, determining that Barton had "crossed the line between free speech and a crime" with specific posts made between January and March 2024. Barton, who has reinvented himself as a provocative social commentator since retiring from football in 2017, faced 12 charges in total under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003. While he was acquitted on six counts, the convictions carry significant implications for his public persona and could result in a custodial sentence when he appears for sentencing on December 8. The Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary KC, granted Barton unconditional bail but imposed strict conditions, including a prohibition on mentioning Aluko, Ward, or Vine on social media until the hearing.
The controversy ignited in January 2024 following an ITV broadcast of an FA Cup third-round match between Crystal Palace and Everton on January 6. During the game, pundits Aluko and Ward provided analysis that drew criticism from some viewers, prompting Barton to unleash a barrage of posts. In one particularly egregious example, he superimposed the faces of Aluko and Ward onto a photograph of notorious serial killers Fred and Rose West, captioning it to imply they were the "Fred and Rose West of football commentary." While the jury cleared Barton on the direct textual comparison to the Wests, they unanimously deemed the manipulated image grossly offensive, convicting him on that count. Another post likened Aluko to dictators Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot, claiming she had "murdered hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of football fans' ears" through her commentary—a charge on which he was acquitted. However, jurors found guilt in a related post where Barton accused Aluko of being "only there to tick boxes," dismissing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as "a load of s***" and tying them to the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of George Floyd. This conviction, one of two related to the female pundits, has raised questions about potential racial motivations, with prosecutors noting the comments' derogatory undertones toward Aluko, a Black woman and former England international.
Barton was also convicted on four counts pertaining to Jeremy Vine, the veteran Channel 5 presenter and radio host. The feud escalated after Vine responded to Barton's initial posts about Aluko and Ward on January 8, 2024, tweeting a concerned query: "Is it time for @Joey7Barton to get help for a brain injury?" Vine, who has cycled extensively for charity and often wears a helmet camera, became the target of a relentless stream of abuse. Barton repeatedly branded him a "bike nonce"—a slang term implying pedophilia—and escalated with references to convicted sex offender Rolf Harris and disgraced broadcaster Phillip Schofield. One convicted post read: "Oh @theJeremyVine Did you Rolf-aroo and Schofield go out on a tandem bike ride? You big bike nonce ya." Another suggested Vine had visited Jeffrey Epstein's island, asking, "Have you been on Epstein Island? Are you going to be on these flight logs? Might as well own up now because I'd phone the police if I saw you near a primary school on ya bike." Further guilty verdicts came for posts warning followers: "If you see this fella by a primary school call 999," and "Beware Man with Camera on his helmets cruising past primary schools. Call the Cops if spotted." Barton was cleared on three other Vine-related tweets, including a mock apology to Aluko.
Throughout the five-day trial, Barton maintained that his comments were satirical "dark humour" intended to critique what he saw as tokenistic appointments in football broadcasting. Taking the stand in his own defense, he admitted the posts caused "anxiety and distress" but insisted there was no malicious intent, framing the prosecution as a "political" attack on free speech. "I'm not a misogynist or a racist," Barton told the court, arguing his history of on-field aggression was irrelevant to his online persona. Prosecutors, led by Peter Wright KC, countered that Barton's platform amplified the harm, describing the posts as "vindictive" and designed to harass high-profile women in a male-dominated industry. Vine himself testified earlier in the week, revealing the "completely devastating" toll on his mental health, including sleepless nights and professional repercussions. He described feeling "terrified" by the implications of being labeled a pedophile to millions, emphasizing that such accusations could incite real-world threats.
The case has broader resonances in the ongoing debate over online toxicity, particularly toward women and minorities in sports. Aluko and Ward, both trailblazers—Aluko as a former Aston Villa player and Ward as a respected match analyst—did not testify but were central to the narrative of gendered abuse. ITV issued a statement at the time of the original posts condemning Barton's remarks as "contemptible and shameful," vowing support for their pundits. In the wake of the verdict, Aluko broke her silence with a poignant social media statement, calling X a "cesspit where too many people say things under the guise of freedom of speech to others they wouldn't dream of saying in real life." She added, "The crown court guilty verdict today is a reminder that actions and words online do not come without real world and criminal consequences. The posts directed at me, Lucy Ward and Jeremy Vine by Joey Barton were deeply distressing and had a real damaging impact on my life and career. I am thankful justice has been served." Ward echoed similar sentiments privately, sources close to her confirmed, though she has not issued a public response.
Barton, who last managed Bristol Rovers in 2021, watched the verdicts from the dock clad in a Union Jack-patterned scarf—a provocative accessory that drew judicial rebuke. Menary KC remarked, "He has chosen to adorn himself with a particular flag which I suppose is a stunt to make a point. He will not be permitted to do that on the sentencing date." The judge also indicated he would consider aggravating factors, including Barton's large following and prior controversies, such as a 2023 libel loss to Aluko where he was ordered to pay substantial damages.
This conviction arrives amid heightened scrutiny of social media's role in harassment cases. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) hailed the outcome as a deterrent, with a spokesperson stating, "This case sends a clear message: online abuse has no place in society, and the law will hold offenders accountable regardless of their profile." Vine, speaking outside court, urged platforms like X to enhance moderation, noting, "Words have power, and when weaponized, they destroy lives." As Barton awaits his fate, the ruling may catalyze reforms in digital accountability, reminding influencers that virality does not confer impunity.
