UK Edition
Barnsley manager 'undergoes emergency dental treatment' following alleged brawl with Joey Barton
Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel was said to be undergoing emergency dental treatment on Sunday after police launched an assault investigation into an alleged tunnel brawl with Joey Barton.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed they had launched "thorough" inquiries after witnesses reportedly claimed Stendel lost two teeth as he was punched and head-butted by the Fleetwood Town manager.
However, Fleetwood are in no immediate rush to discipline Barton, with club sources casting doubt on the veracity of at least some of the allegations.
One told The Telegraph last night that "80 per cent" of claims were inaccurate and that the truth will "come out in the wash". Barnsley declined to comment on reports on the Mirror website that Stendel has received emergency dental treatment. Police have yet to get Stendel's version of events and have made no arrests.
The incident first came to light after Barnsley's victory at Oakwell on Saturday when the car Barton was travelling in was stopped by police. Cauley Woodrow, the Barnsley striker, had claimed in a later deleted tweet that Stendel had been left with blood pouring from his face.
An officer on the scene briefly spoke to Barton before letting him go. A spokeswoman for the force confirmed no arrests had been made, adding: “Officers received reports of an assault at Barnsley Football Club on Saturday, 13 April. This incident has been crimed and will be thoroughly investigated.”
Both clubs attempted to close ranks over the alleged brawl on Sunday. The Sun first reported that Stendel lost two teeth after Barton punched and headbutted him. Barton, the newspaper reported, is also alleged to have grabbed Stendel by the throat after the German said he was "just a f****** scally" after the 4-2 victory for the home side at Oakwell.
Immediately after the game Woodrow had taken 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.
However, a senior figure at Fleetwood, speaking to The Telegraph on condition of anonymity, said on Sunday: "There's always two sides to every story. We're not for trial by the media or the social media. We need to establish the facts. About 80 per cent of what has come out so far has been wrong. It will all come out in the wash. Where Joey's involved there will always be headlines."
Barnsley refused to confirm reports that Stendel had lost two teeth. A statement said: "The club is assisting the police with its inquiries and, as a result, we are not in a position to make any further comment at this time."
Meanwhile, Shaun Harvey, chief executive of the EFL, said he will help investigate the alleged incident. He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "I was stunned when I heard. We have all heard of tunnel fracas as players have left the pitch. It's the first instance I've heard, described as it has been, by those who witnessed it. It's disappointing and it comes on the back of a number of challenges which have come to the surface for football to deal with. We need everyone who plays a part to lead by example."
Barton's career has been marked by controversial incidents. 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. In May 2007 he was suspended by City after a training ground altercation with team-mate Ousmane Dabo 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, and banned for 12 matches in May 2012 for violent conduct when playing for Queens Park Rangers. His playing career came to an end after being banned for 18 months on betting charges.
Fleetwood issued a brief statement: "We are currently establishing the facts and will not make any further comment at this time."