Joey Barton doubles down on his criticism of female broadcasters working in men’s football in Piers Morgan interview as he blames ‘woke agenda’ and insists ‘it’s not to do with sexism at all’

Joey Barton doubled down on his controversial criticism of female broadcasters in men’s football in an incendiary look on Piers Morgan’s talkshow on Thursday night. 

The former Manchester City man beforehand shared a collection of misogynistic posts on social media on Wednesday that floated the concept that ‘girls should not be speaking with any form of authority in the men’s sport’.

‘Come on. Let’s be severe,’ Barton added, earlier than suggesting: ‘Any man who listens to Women commentary or co-comms wants their heads testing…’

Barton, 41, refused to again down and continued with posts that derided City hiring a lady to current social media protection, and referred to as out the ‘woke’ selections he believes are made by broadcasters over the figures featured on their protection. 

‘TV have to be going out the window should you get a double dose of XX on the comms crew on your subsequent massive match,’ the 41-year-old added. 

Barton confirmed little signal of a change of coronary heart with his look on Piers Morgan: Uncensored after being supplied a possibility to air his views by his former Question Time sparring accomplice. 

Describing himself a ‘bonafide knowledgeable’ of the sport, the previous Bristol Rover boss referred to as out what he believes is a ‘woke agenda’ fueling the choice to rent girls as pundits, commentators, or co-commentators – however argued that he wasn’t sexist. 

‘I don’t need to see sexism in football, but when we don’t debate (the function of girls in football broadcasting) correctly, that is simply going to rise and rise, and wreck the expertise of watching elite-level men’s football,’ Barton mentioned when requested by Morgan if the language of his social media posts had been intentionally inflammatory. 

‘Everywhere you flip now, there’s an unqualified opinion pontificating in regards to the sport I really like, and it’s ruining my expertise – to gasoline this woke agenda, and it’s going to enhance sexism massively, as a result of it has to be a real meritocracy. We have to have people who find themselves certified to do these roles.’

When prompted on why he did not really feel girls have been certified, Barton burdened that it was ‘completely not about’ girls having not performed at the highest degree of the men’s sport. 

Instead, he argued, he was in opposition to ‘tokenism’ earlier than including: ‘Obviously it helps to speak in regards to the males’s sport should you’ve performed at the next degree, as a result of it offers you a singular expertise.’

With some contradiction, he famous: ‘There’s loads of similarities between each sports activities, however the males’s sport is performed at a very completely different velocity, with a special skillset wanted. For somebody to stand there and say “I would have done this”, or “He’s made a mistake” – who haven’t any expertise of that…

‘It’s not only one or two, it (football broadcasting has) been taken over.

‘I don’t need to come throughout as sexist, I’ve obtained an exquisite spouse, great daughter, grandmother.

‘We need it to be various and inclusive, nevertheless it’s obtained to be credible.’ 

When queried as to whether or not he felt he might adequately cowl Champions League or World Cup football – having by no means featured in both competitors – Barton added: ‘Everybody’s entitled to remark. I can speak about football, I can speak about taekwondo, nevertheless it’s about credibility and journalistic requirements, fairly than tokenism.’

Barton was eager to stress that he was keen to forgive journalistic error – regardless of citing an instance of commentary which featured an outline of a objective he thought was incorrect to help his argument – and urged warning from broadcasters. 

‘Think of these nice commentators (such as Alan Hansen)… their alternatives are going to be restricted, as a result of ex-female gamers are getting these alternatives, so we have got to watch out,’ he mentioned.

Barton later added: ‘We’ve obtained to name it for what it’s: the world’s gone loopy’. 

The ex-QPR participant – who’s at the moment unemployed after being sacked by Bristol Rovers in October – refused to be drawn on which girls had prompted his outburst, which appeared to be linked to Amazon Prime’s protection of the midweek Premier League fixtures.