Former Newcastle Player Joey Barton: I Will Not Press Charges After Nightclub 'Sucker Punch'

By Hugh Macknight Location: Liverpool

Football bad boy Joey Barton said he will not press charges after he was punched in the head outside a nightclub.

Police arrested two men after the former Newcastle United midfielder, 29, was attacked in Liverpool.

Barton took to Twitter to praise the officers who dealt with the city centre altercation in the early hours of the morning.

He said: "Not planning on pressing charges as its not that serious. The police have also got better things to do with their time.

"Can I just say a public thanks to the police last night as they were and have been today brilliant."

A Merseyside Police spokesman said two 21-year-old men were in custody after they were arrested for a public order offence.

Barton said of the incident: "I got sucker punched in the back of the head. Not injured as reported just a small bruise on rear of head/ear.

"I've had worse. Life goes on! Thanks for the concern. Have a good day people."

Joey Barton joined Newcastle United from Manchester City for £5.8m in 2007, before signing for QPR at the beginning of last season.

His career has been littered with controversy.

In 2008 he served 77 days of a six-month sentence for common assault and affray following an incident in Liverpool city centre.

He had also been given a four-month suspended sentence earlier that year for a training ground fight with his Manchester City team mate Ousmane Dabo.

The playmaker has will miss the first 12 games of next season after three charges of violent conduct in the final game of last season against Manchester City.

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