On this day in 2012: Joey Barton stripped of captaincy by QPR

The midfielder was sent off as his former club scooped a dramatic title.

Joey Barton (right) was initially sent off for clashing with Manchester City’s Carlo Tevez (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Archive)

Joey Barton was stripped of the QPR captaincy on this day in 2012.

The midfielder was sent off during Manchester City’s dramatic final-day 3-2 win over QPR in May – which saw them win the title with Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal.

He was sent off by referee Mike Dean after elbowing Carlos Tevez and, as he left the pitch, Barton kicked Sergio Aguero before aiming a headbutt at Vincent Kompany.

He was fined six weeks’ wages, on top of a £75,000 fine from the Football Association and was given a 12-match ban from the FA.

Barton said: “My behaviour was wrong and I accept the punishment that has been imposed upon me as a result. I apologise to the manager, my team-mates and of course the QPR fans for my actions. I also apologise to the Manchester City players, staff and supporters.”

The current Bristol Rovers manager was loaned out to Marseille the following season but stayed at Loftus Road until 2015, making 99 appearances, before joining Burnley.

He also played for Rangers and returned to Burnley to finish his playing career in 2017.

In 2018, he was named Fleetwood manager before becoming Rovers boss in 2021.