Joey Barton is no stranger to voicing his vulgar and misogynistic opinions regarding women and their role within football. A deeply insecure man who is so threatened by the presence of successful and confident women that his only response is to berate them.
A career in misogyny was evidently a last resort for Barton to remain ‘relevant’ after a dire attempt at making a name for himself as a footballer and manager did not have the desired effect. Sacked by Bristol Rovers in October, maybe these are just the pathetic actions of an unemployed man who quite frankly has nothing better to do.
Over the past couple of months he has been on a rampage attacking society’s ‘wokeism’, claiming this new agenda serves a disadvantage to regular, white, middle-aged males.
Picking apart female pundits, broadcasters and to be honest, any female who displays an ounce of sporting talent. He has implied that female commentators have seduced their way to the top using their sexuality to their advantage.
But of course this attention-seeking behaviour is as Barton would say, just him expressing his freedom of speech, squashing any viable reason for criticism.
Imagine being so riled by Mary Earps winning SPOTY 2023, you choose to publicly insult her by making the ludicrous claim you would score 100 out of 100 penalties against her.
Some big words from a man with only 12 England minutes to his name.
An award that is determined by public vote, clearly privileged males such as himself cannot fathom how a female athlete could be more popular and successful than their male counterparts. Perhaps all the resentment is shielding the overbearing jealousy.
For someone who has spent more minutes in prison than on the football pitch, the bloke has an awful lot to say.
He has previously claimed that Lioness legend Alex Scott hasn’t got a clue about football and prominent figures like herself should not be commenting on the men’s game. Despite the sport being separated by gender, the tactics and rules of the game remain the same.
If you look at other sports such as tennis and athletics there is an array of pundits, regardless of gender and background. The argument is absurd. What makes it even more ridiculous is how Barton feels inclined to attack Scott, a player with 140 England caps to her name compared to his lousy one.
Only a couple of weeks ago did he compare the likes of two female pundits to serial killers, describing Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko “as the Fred and Rose West of football commentary”. Such words are coming from a man who previously claimed he was too intelligent to be a footballer. Consider replacing intelligent with deranged.
His main argument is that women are clueless about football, but I would argue Barton is clueless about women in football.
Yes the men’s game in England is more established than the women’s, but that is also because they didn’t have to endure unimaginable hurdles like a 50-year ban.
He wouldn’t understand the journey, the trailblazers, the pioneers – everything that has made women’s football what it is today. The years of discrimination, the lack of facilities, the lack of research and insufficient funding. Women have earnt their right for a place in such a male dominated space, their efforts should be taken seriously.
As Chelsea Manager Emma Hayes says, women are “routinely used to dealing with systemic misogyny and bullying" in football.
And this is where the narrative needs to change. Society must start playing catch up.
Times are evolving, audiences are changing.
Once a world where females would be shunned is finally no longer the reality. We are now seeing women on our screens, hearing their voices, and being exposed to their opinions. Yes you most certainly do not have to agree, but you also do not need to belittle and bully.
When can women start winning awards without the phrase ‘Oh its only because she’s a woman’ following after?
When can women feel like they are truly deserving of their career and not just because they are the ‘token woman’?
When can victories be celebrated instead of being dragged because men claim they can do better?
Of course everyone has the right to their own opinion but there’s a significant difference between insightful debate and outright abuse. Particularly when there seems to be no consequence in what you choose to share on social media.
The bottom line is that while these losers continue to undermine the ability of women, women’s football is only getting stronger. And in some ways this just spurs us on even further.