Barton as 'Useless Makeweight' - Instant Karma

I could write a whole blog just about Joseph Barton, not an overly flattering one either. Just a few short months ago I debated the latest piece of lunacy from Barton http://gibbsbarrister.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/no-sporting-chance.html  His attack upon, inter alia, Sergio Aguero, in the critical end of season game between QPR, battling relegation, and Man City chasing, ultimately successfully, the title, led to his expulsion from the field of play and eventually a 12 match ban from the FA (4 matches for a second red card that season,  a consecutive 4 matches for his cowardly attack on Aguero and a further 4 matches for attempting to head butt Vincent Kompany). Unbelievably Barton denied the Kompany allegation. The footage did not lie but who was advising Barton? Was he listening? 

The FA subsequently took no action in respect  of Barton's  ugly twitter rants which followed. Nonetheless the ban is one of the longest in FA history. The Chairman of the Regulatory Commission stated 'There are rules of conduct that should be adhered to, and such behaviour tarnishes the image of football in this country, particularly as this match was the pinnacle of the domestic season and watched by millions around the globe'.

Ouch! 12 games

Focus then  reshifted  to QPR. What would they do about a player who would not be available for almost a quarter of next season  and one who had brought disgrace upon himself, but also the club?
After considering numerous options, including sacking him for 'gross misconduct', and attempts to off load him into the Football Conference proved untenable, QPR achieved something of a triumph out of adversity.
Taking advantage of another club's difficulties, QPR managed to negotiate the purchase of midfielder Stephane Mbia from Olympique Marseille, whilst simultaneously loaning their number one problem to the French club. The French club clearly needed to offload Mbia, Barton was the 'contrainte economique' to achieve it.
So QPR get at least some of Barton's reported £80k per week salary off the books, and acquire a 26 yr old Cameroonian international who can play in central defence or midfield, what did Marseille get?
Stunningly it appears that OM always knew that the English ban (12 games) was likely to carry over into France. On Thursday the French Federation confirmed that Barton's ban would apply there as requested by the English FA, pursuant to Article 12 of the FIFA Transfer Regulations. What a nonsense if it did not!

Makeweight

Marseille therefore acquired a player that they cannot use in 8 Ligue 1 games and one Champions League games (Barton has already served 3 games of his ban). It appears that Barton was acquired on the insistence of OM President Vincent Labrune in order to ensure the Mbia deal. Although OM Coach Elie Baup rates Barton, there is no way he would have chosen to have an unavailable player as part of his plans.
It appears that Joseph will have plenty of time for tourism, but will have to get used to being an irrelevance in playing terms. justice after all?

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