Eni Aluko is suing Joey Barton ‘for calling her Rose West’
Ex-Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton is being sued by Eni Aluko ‘for calling her Rose West’, weeks after he was ordered to pay Jeremy Vine £75,000 for claiming he had a ‘sexual interest in children’.
Barton, 41, took aim at former Chelsea and England star Aluko and co-commentator Lucy Ward over their coverage of the FA cup third-round clash between Crystal Palace and Everton in January this year.
In a post on X, he wrote: ‘How is she even talking about Men’s football. She can’t even kick a ball properly. Your coverage of the game EFC last night, took it to a new low. Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, the Fred and Rose West of football commentary.’
Barton later tweeted: ‘On reflection, I feel I’ve been a tad harsh on Eni Aluko by comparing her to Rose West.
‘She’s clearly in the Joseph Stalin/Pol Pot category. She’s murdered hundreds of thousands of football fans ears in the last few years. Meritocracy Rules!’
The Sun reported today that Aluko has lodged documents at the High Court, officially filing a new defamation case against the controversial former manager.
Barton launched a tirade on X, formerly known as Twitter, against ITV pundit Eni Aluko and commentator Lucy Ward
Aluko (left) and Ward (right) were both victims to Barton’s social media attacks after he compared the pundits to serial killers Fred and Rose West
Stalin was the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union for a quarter of a century, including throughout the Second World War and is known for his totalitarian communist regime.
Pol Pot, meanwhile, was another communist dictator who ruled Cambodia as Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea between 1976 and 1979.
Barton’s previous post made reference to Fred and Rose West, who murdered 12 women and young girls over the course of 20 years.
The controversial former player previously boasted that he would score ‘100 out of 100 penalties’ against Mary Earps after she won the Sports Personality of the Year Award.
His attacks on female footballers and pundits have been widely condemned.
Speaking about football coverage, Rishi Sunak said ‘I listen to all sorts of conversations and they’re all great. It shouldn’t really matter, quite frankly.’
‘Of course it should be open to everybody.’
ITV criticised the ‘vindictive remarks’ and campaign group Women in Football praised the channel for coming out in support of Aluko and Ward.
They said: ‘We call on all employers in the football industry to show the same support for their female employees and take all possible measures to ensure their well-being in the current epidemic of misogynistic abuse.
‘As the leading agency driving gender equality in football we stand with all those who suffer such abuse.’
And sports minister Stuart Andrew told a Culture, Media and Sport select committee that the ‘dangerous comments open the floodgates for abuse’.
Ms Aluko, 37, who was capped 102 times for England, said Barton’s comments led to a torrent of abuse online, which left her scared to leave the house.
At the time, Samuel Solicitors issued Barton a letter stating that his post ‘made untrue, inaccurate and defamatory allegations’ that caused Aluko and her family ‘extreme upset, distress and harm to her reputation’.
But it appears the female pundit has filed a new defamation case against Barton this week.
Aluko claimed she had been ‘genuinely scared’ to leave her house after Barton’s tirades
Ms Aluko (right) has been capped 102 times for England
It is not the first time Barton has found himself in hot water.
The ex-Rovers Boss previously exchanged verbal blows with BBC star Jeremy Vine, 59, and was forced to apologise after a string of vile posts.
Barton suggested Vine had a sexual interest in children, calling him a ‘bike nonce’ and a ‘paedo defender’.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Barton earlier this year.
In May, the High Court ruled that these comments were defamatory and the sportsman apologised before paying £75,000 in damages and legal costs.
Barton then paid a further £35,000 for posts published after Mr Vine took legal action.
Judith Thompson of Samuels Solicitors said: ‘Mr Barton responded to being served with Mr Vine’s claim by making additional damaging and untrue publications about Mr Vine and his legal complaints.’
These statements gave rise to additional claims which were not covered by the first settlement.
Joey Barton, pictured arriving at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court in October 2022, has agreed to pay £75,000 in damages to BBC presenter Jeremy Vine
BBC Radio 2 host Vine is seen here attending the Royal Courts of Justice in London after bringing a libel claim against former England and Manchester City footballer Joey Barton
Barton (right) won his one England cap against Spain in February 2007, coming on as a substitute for Frank Lampard (left) at Manchester United’s Old Trafford
Barton began his playing career at Manchester City, who he represented from 2002 to 2007
He later managed Fleetwood Town and then Bristol Rovers, who fired him last October – he is pictured here at Rovers’ League One match away to Lincoln City in February last year
The lawyer added: ‘Mr Vine is pleased that his claims have been resolved and that he has been vindicated in respect of Mr Barton’s appalling allegations and conduct.’
Barton is also ‘required to participate in a statement in Open Court, in which he will make a comprehensive formal apology’ as well as ‘give undertakings’ not to repeat his actions.
Both Aluko and Vine used Samuels Solicitors to pursue legal action against Barton.
