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Like many others, I have looked on in disgust as Joey Barton has continued to spew a torrent of abuse towards female footballers on social media.
It would be tempting to refuse to give the guy any more ‘oxygen’. To say: ‘He’s not worth it, he’s doing it for the clicks’, or to think that he is simply deluded.
But, to be honest, his words have gone far enough. His bile is becoming dangerous. It has the potential to have a huge effect on the mental wellbeing of athletes and to enable those who are already on the cusp of sexist and misogynistic behaviour to take the next step.
His latest foray is a case in point. What started out as a public shaming of 17-year-old goalkeeper Ava Easdon, following her mistake in the Sky Sports Cup final with Rangers, then led to Barton referring to the women’s game as ‘lesbo ball’. Good one, Joey. Let’s all play the lesbian card, shall we? Not only was this extremely offensive, it was childish in the extreme.
He was reacting to Scotland international and Rangers captain Nicola Docherty saying: ‘Couldn’t help but notice the Tweets from an older man regarding this great young goalkeeper who is inspiring the next generation. Keep doing what you are doing! If women’s football isn’t for you, change the channel, it isn’t hard.’
I have been disgusted as Joey Barton has continued to spew a torrent of abuse towards female footballers
Partick Thistle goalkeeper Ava Easdon, 17, became the focus of Joey Barton's ire after a mistake
Barton's tweet mocked Easdon and suggested the SWPL Cup final shouldn't be on television
Barton, who had also come under fire from the teenager’s father, retorted: ‘Come on Nicola. One Tweet about a clip. She’s had more publicity about this than she or her dad deserves based on their actual ability.
'It shouldn’t be on a paid subscription channel because it’s sub-standard quality to most football. Ran the ‘bullying’ headlines and father a ‘kickboxing champion’. Will youse behave and put those victim, girl power cards away. They don’t work on people with a brain.
'Lesbo-ball will never be as big as men’s football no matter how much you virtue signal. Ya too slow and ya not going to change that. It’s called biological evolution. Have a great day. Don’t be a victim.’
There are so many repellent things in this one message alone, that I almost don’t know where to begin. So let’s deconstruct it a little bit, shall we?
To be clear, Ava Easdon and her dad never wanted the kind of publicity they have recently accrued. Why would they? I understand that neither Ava nor her father have spoken to anyone in the media since Barton’s comments appeared. Ava’s father, Lex, made a statement on X, but he did not go to the papers.
Then there’s this bit: ‘Will youse behave and put those victim, girl power cards away. They don’t work on people with a brain.’
I’m sorry — behave yourself? What, like, be a good girl? Run along now and stop defending your rights as a woman? Or those of another human being whom you admire and respect? You’re
