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Joey Barton investigated by police for alleged brawl with Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel after Fleetwood loss
Fleetwood Town manager Joey Barton is being investigated by police after an alleged brawl with his Barnsley counterpart Daniel Stendel.
Barton was alleged to have confronted Stendel after the full-time whistle of his side's 4-2 defeat at Oakwell, leaving him "with blood pouring from his face". Reports suggested both individuals had to be separated by stewards and police in the tunnel afterwards.
Sky Sports footage showed Barton being stopped by police while trying to drive away from Oakwell and this evening Barnsley released a statement confirming police were investigating the incident.
"The club can confirm there was an alleged incident in the tunnel area that took place following the conclusion of today’s match, which South Yorkshire police are currently investigating.
"The club is assisting the police with its enquiries and, as a result, we are not in a position to make any further comment at this time."
Immediately after the game Barnsley forward Cauley Woodrow took to social media to describe his "disgust" at the events following the match.
"Firstly ... to have a manager that can physically assault another manager in the tunnel is disgusting, causing our manager to have blood pouring from his face!!" he wrote on Twitter.
"People like you don’t deserve a place in the game of football you are foul." He later deleted his posts.
It is not the first time former Manchester City, Newcastle and Queens park Rangers midfielder Barton has attracted headlines this season.
In January he was charged by the FA over comments made about the refereeing during Fleetwood's game with Bristol Rovers. He was also fined £2,000 for accusing match officials of bias and hit with a one-match touchline ban.
Fleetwood is Barton's first managerial position but prior to that, his career was marked by numerous controversial incidents and disciplinary problems.
In December 2004 he was fined six weeks' wages for stubbing a lit cigar in the eye of a young team-mate during Manchester City's Christmas party, while in May 2007 he was suspended by the same club after a training ground altercation which later led to assault charges and a suspended four-month jail sentence.
He was also jailed for six months in May 2008 for common assault and affray, eventually serving 74 days in prison.
Barton was banned for 12 matches in May 2012 for violent conduct when playing for Queens Park Rangers and his playing career came to an end at Burnley after being banned from the game for 18 months on betting charges in April 2017.