Joey Barton reveals French death threat
Controversial midfielder makes light of bizarre warning letter
QPR midfielder Joey Barton has revealed details of a death threat he received while playing in France for Marseille.
The outspoken footballer tweeted a photograph of a letter which was sent to him at La Commanderie, the training ground of the French side Olympique de Marseille, where he spent a year on loan.
The incoherent letter, which Barton sarcastically refers to as “fan mail”, threatens to “smash your head shots baseball bat” and warns Barton he will "die a knife open mouth since emptied your blood b**tard". In a subsequent tweet, the footballer commented: "Not sure what's more offensive, the grammar or the intent?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The letter is signed “Cvetko Ivanovic” and includes a return address in Paris. Barton posted a Google Maps image of the Paris address, writing next to the picture of a block of flats: "By the way his gaff looks nice..."
The midfielder left France after a year on-loan at Marseille. His stay ended in controversy after he was given a suspended two-match ban for saying PSG defender Thiago Silva looked like an "overweight ladyboy".
The one-cap Englishman has often hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. In 2004 he was fined six weeks' wages by Manchester City after he stubbed a cigar in the eye of a young team-mate during a Christmas party. Then, in 2007 he received a suspended jail sentence and was given a 12-match ban for a training ground scrap with team-mate Ousmane Dabo, which left him needing hospital treatment.
The following year he was jailed for six months for common assault and affray after a late-night attack on a man in Liverpool. In 2012 he was given an unprecedented 12-game ban by the FA for violent conduct.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Unthinkable tragedy'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Passenger: 'pleasingly off-kilter' ITV crime drama
The Week Recommends There's 'plenty to be feared' in this British murder mystery set in a quiet northern town
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: March 27, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published