Joey Barton has recalled his infamous fight in a Thai bar with ex-
Everton defender Richard Dunne.
Barton makes the claim in his new book “No Nonsense” saying the pair, then at Manchester City, came to blows following a penalty shoot-out win over Everton in a pre-season tournament.
The Huyton-born midfielder recounts the night in 2005 that new manager Stuart Pearce made a ‘rookie’s mistake’ in allowing the squad to go for a few drinks after the game.
Barton writes: “I take after my grandad, in that I am an angry, articulate drunk.
“When Dunney [Richard Dunne] had the bright idea of ordering a couple of bottles of wine, and then a couple more, the tenor of the night was set.”
He then recalls the meeting of some Everton fans in the bar which would change the mood of the evening dramatically:
“He [Everton fan] began to denigrate Robbie Fowler as a cokehead and a coward, because he wasn’t on the trip. Bob was injured, and I wasn’t going to put up with lazy, vindictive lies about him. I could feel the mist start to descend.”
A fracas began during which the fan ‘slipped away to complain to Dunney.’
Barton: “I went back to my pint and was soon confronted by the Honey Monster [Dunne], who was as buried in booze as I was. ‘F***ing get over there now and apologise!’ he screamed. I declined.
“Dunney grabbed me by the throat, and pushed me back against the wall. He was bigger than me and stronger than me so wrestling was out of the question. I turned feral, and sank my teeth into his fist as hard as I could.
“I rugby tackled him before he could react. Our momentum took us over some steps and into a secondary tier, where Dunney crashed through a glass coffee table.
“'You’re going to have to fight him now. He’s a big lad, but nothing to be scared of'. I leaped back to the bar and grabbed a pint glass. Tim Flowers recognised my intention of smashing it across Dunney’s head, and threw himself at me.
“I could hear Dunney screaming, he was being frog marched to a secure area, and was so out of control he kicked a plant pot, breaking a bone in his foot.”
He added: “Pearce was unequivocal. He wanted me thrown into a Thai jail, to await deportation. Club officials were rather less impulsive. They extracted promises that all damages would be paid for, and hustled me out of a side entrance and off to the airport.”
Originally Posted by geysir
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