Barnsley have lodged a formal complaint with both the EFL and FA over the alleged tunnel incident involving Fleetwood Town head coach Joey Barton and Tykes boss Daniel Stendel.
Barton is said to have confronted Reds head coach Stendel in the Oakwell tunnel following Saturday’s League One game, which ended in a 4-2 victory for the home side.
Stendel reportedly needed emergency dental treatment after the alleged incident.
Shortly after the match on Saturday, Barnsley striker, Cauley Woodrow tweeted that Barton had ‘physically assaulted’ Stendel. He wrote that the confrontation left his manager with ‘blood pouring from his face.’
Woodrow later deleted the Tweet.
According to the Blackpool Gazette, the treatment was due to Stendel’s two front teeth being pushed back after he collided with a metal pole in the tunnel.
South Yorkshire Police are investigating the incident.
The Barnsley statement said; ‘Barnsley Football Club can confirm that it has lodged a formal complaint to both the English Football League and the Football Association. This is following an alleged incident at the conclusion of the match on Saturday 13th April, between Joey Barton and Daniel Stendel.’
‘The Club is also currently working with the police and assisting with all enquiries regarding the incident.’
‘No further comment will be issued whilst police investigations are ongoing.’
Joey Barton has a history of controversy, including a seventy-seven-day spell in prison for common assault and affray following an incident in Liverpool city centre in December 2007.
He took over at Fleetwood for his first managerial job last summer immediately after an eighteen-month FA ban for betting ended.
Our View
In an article on this website on the subject of the future of Striker Ched Evans written on Friday, a positive comment was given about the lack of adverse headlines around Joey Barton this season.
Barton was also complimented for getting his head down and doing a solid if an unspectacular job in his first season in management.
By Saturday evening it was apparent that we had spoken too soon.
This story will no doubt run and run but what is clear is that Barnsley quite rightly want to get to the bottom of what actually happened in the tunnel at Oakwell after the match and so should the FA and EFL.
