Newcastle's Barton charged for training ground 'assault'

Aug 2, 2007 - 2:54 PM By Pat Hurst Special to PA SportsTicker

MANCHESTER, England (Ticker) -- Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton was charged with assault Thursday after a training ground bust-up with a former teammate.

The England international midfielder allegedly attacked fellow player Ousmane Dabo while still with Manchester City at the end of last season.

Barton was formally charged with assault by police after answering bail in Manchester on Thursday.

The 24-year-old, capped once for England, was arrested in May following the incident.

It is alleged he attacked his then teammate Dabo, 30, during a training session at the club's complex in Carrington, South Manchester.

Barton was arrested, spoken to by police and bailed until this Thursday while they made further inquiries to find out what happened.

The player was suspended by Manchester City after the incident, and sold by the club to Newcastle in June in a $11.6 million deal.

He is now out of action for Newcastle after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his left foot during a pre-season friendly last week.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said Joseph Anthony Barton was charged with Section 47 assault.

He will appear at Trafford Magistrates' Court next Thursday.

Should Barton plead not guilty and the case go to trial, it can be heard either at magistrates court or in front of a jury at crown court.

The offence is understood to carry a maximum sentence of up to five years in jail on conviction.