Joey Barton at risk of nine-match ban after losing it at Manchester City

Referee Mike Dean talks to Queens Park Rangers' Joey Barton before giving him a red card during their English Premier League against Manchester City (AP)

Joey Barton could potentially face a nine-game ban for his red card and subsequent kick-out at Sergio Aguero if the Football Association consider the second offence worthy of a three-match ban.

At the very least Barton will be banned for four games at the start of next season, three for violent conduct and an extra game for it being his second dismissal of the season. His first red card was against Norwich City on 2 January when he tried to butt Bradley Johnson. Should the FA discip-linary department consider his kick at Aguero violent conduct, he will get another three games banned and a supplementary two for it being effectively his third red card of the season.

Later Barton took to Twitter to claim that he had been told by a team-mate to "take one of theirs with me". "The head was never gone at any stage, once I'd been sent off." Earlier he had tweeted: "Still not my proudest moment but who gives a f*ck, we are safe and that is all that matters."