Joey Barton banned from football for 18 months after admitting FA charge in relation to betting

The Burnley midfielder, who intends to appeal the length of the suspension, has also been fined £30,000 after admitting to placing 1,260 bets over a 10-year period

Joey Barton has been banned from the game for 18 months (Getty)

Joey Barton has been banned from football and all football activity for 18 months after admitting an FA misconduct charge in relation to betting.

The Burnley midfielder, who intends to appeal the length of the suspension, has also been fined £30,000 after admitting to placing 1,260 bets over a 10-year period.

An FA statement read: "It was alleged that between 26 March 2006 and 13 May 2016, he placed 1,260 bets on the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in, football matches or competitions in breach of FA Rule E8.

"Following the Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, the Burnley midfielder was also fined £30,000 and warned as to his future conduct.

"Written Reasons will follow in due course."

Barton believes the FA's decision "effectively forces him into retirement" and he does intend to appeal the length of the suspension.

"The FA have announced I am banned from all football for 18 months and fined £30,000 and costs for offences against The FA’s Betting Rules. I am very disappointed at the harshness of the sanction. The decision effectively forces me into an early retirement from playing football."

He added in a statement released on his own website: "Having consulted with my friends and lawyers, I have decided I will be appealing against the length of the ban. I hope that I shall be afforded a fair hearing by an independent Appeal Panel. If I am, we are confident that the sanction will be reduced to a fair one that both reflects the offences as well as the mitigating factors and the fact that there was nothing untoward or suspicious about the bets I made."

Barton agreed to re-join Burnley in December after a controversial spell with Rangers before being officially charged by the FA three days later. He accepted the charge on January 2.

The suspension effectively ends Barton's career (Getty)

The 34-year-old thanked the Clarets for their support during his time at Turf Moor.

"I want to thank the Burnley FC board, management, players and staff for their faith and understanding, and their belief that I would play for them, and play well, even with this hanging over me, and I want to thank the Burnley fans for the support they have given me throughout. They have been brilliant."

Barton has been no stranger to controversy during his career infamously stubbing a cigar out in Manchester City youth player Jamie Tandy's eye in 2004 before being charged with assault after an incident involving teammate Ousmane Dabo four years later. Spells at Newcastle, QPR, Marseille followed while he was capped once by England for a friendly with Spain in 2007.