Joey Barton blames backlash to his comments comparing Bristol Rovers’ performance to the HOLOCAUST on the ‘modern day world we live in’, in bizarre ‘apology’ to ‘anybody offended’ after five days of silence
- Boss Joey Barton referred to Bristol Rovers’ 3-1 loss to Newport as a ‘holocaust’
- He blamed the ‘modern day world’ for people being offended by his comments
- He also ‘apologised’ for ‘upsetting’ people after the FA wrote to him this week
- The manager says that there was ‘no malice or offence intended to anybody’
Joey Barton has apologised for using the ‘incorrect analogy’ when comparing Bristol Rovers’ poor performance against Newport County on Saturday to the Holocaust.
The manager said that there was ‘no malice or offence intended’ when he referred to Rovers’ 3-1 loss to Newport as the Holocaust and promised to use ‘better analogies in future’.
However, he did blame the ‘modern day world we live in’ for being the reason why people were ‘offended’ by his comments.
Joey Barton has apologised for using the ‘incorrect analogy’ when comparing Bristol Rovers’ poor performance against Newport County on Saturday to the Holocaust
Speaking at his press conference ahead of Bristol Rovers’ clash with Harrogate Town, Barton said: ‘I’m just going to say there were some comments made after the press conference last week where clearly no offence was meant, but some people have rightly pointed out to me the use of the analogy was not correct.
‘The FA wrote to me this week to remind us of our language and communications, and the last thing you want to do is cause offence or upset anybody.
‘So if anybody was offended by that, I would like to apologise for that and I think the FA were right to write to me and remind me of that.
The manager said that there was ‘no malice or offence intended’ when he referred to Rovers’ 3-1 loss to Newport as the Holocaust and promised to use ‘better analogies in future’
However, the 39-year-old (above) did blame the ‘modern day world we live in’ for being the reason why people were ‘offended’ by his comments
‘You hope to use better analogies in future, but it was certainly with no malice or offence intended to anybody.
The FA looked into the post-match interview which heard Barton say the following: ‘I said to the lads during the week, “the team’s almost like musical chairs”. Someone gets in and does well but then gets suspended or injured.
‘Someone gets in for a game, does well but then has a Holocaust, a nightmare, an absolute disaster.’
Despite writing to Barton over the use of his langue, the Football Association have decided not to issue a sanction to the manager as the comment did not break their rules.
Reflecting further on the situation, the 39-year-old Bristol Rovers’ boss said: ‘I just think it’s a case of my next natural chance to speak to the press.
‘I’m forced to speak to you every week after the games, lots of the times when I don’t really want to do it, but it’s part of the job and part of what you have to do and the responsibilities.
Barton also mentioned how the FA had written to him about the incident – although it was revealed that he will not be facing sanctions for his comments
‘It’s our duty to be word perfect and not create controversy.
‘I do get the world we live in and the people we work with and some of our acquaintances have to produce content and produce the opportunity to get people’s attention by clicks.
‘I get that everything we say, even this I’m saying now will no doubt be pieced together in such a way that it will be there to grab and capture the attention of people that use social media, internet, blah, blah, blah.
‘My natural next progression in terms of speaking to the media is here, and I felt that was the way to deal with it rather than the club releasing a statement, blah, blah, blah.
‘For me, it was a poor analogy to use in the context of the modern day world we live in, and it won’t happen again.’
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