Joey Barton facing backlash after breaking ban with post about Gary Lineker and Marcus Rashford

Joey Barton has broken his social media silence with an X post aimed at Gary Lineker.

Barton, 42, recently announced what he described as his “retirement” from social media after various controversies.

The 42-year-old has been involved in legal battles with former England women’s footballer Eni Aluko and journalist Jeremy Vine over the past year or so.

As reported by BBC News in June 2024, Vine sued Barton after the former footballer posted a series of messages on X suggesting the presenter had a sexual interest in children.

In May of 2024, the High Court ruled that Barton’s posts were defamatory before the former midfielder apologised and agreed to £75,000 in damages and legal costs.

Vine later said the payment was "not the final outcome".

Vine's legal team from Samuels Solicitors posted a further statement which read: “As part of a separate settlement, Mr Barton is to be required to pay Mr Vine a further sum of £35,000 in damages, pay additional legal costs, publish a second Pinned Tweet for 14 days, join in another Statement in Open Court, and to give further undertakings to Mr Vine."

Joey Barton has broken his social media silence (Credit:Getty)

The firm added: “The £75,000 in damages is compensation in respect of Mr Barton’s repeated publication of the false allegation that Mr Vine has a sexual interest in children.”

And earlier this month, the former Premier League midfielder announced that he was taking a step back from social media due to the introduction of the “Online Safety Act”.

Barton wrote: “Today, it is with great regret that I must announce my retirement from social media. It’s just too dangerous with this Online Safety Act. You can find me on Friday and Monday on my podcast, [and the admin of the podcast] only will now post on my feed.”

However, he broke his silence on August 13 with a tweet aimed at Lineker.

Barton quote-tweeted a clip of Lineker’s recent interview with Marcus Rashford, during which he touches on the criticism the Barca man has faced from the media.

When talking about the 27-year-old being criticised for wearing certain outfits, Lineker said: “I don’t think that would be criticised if it was a white player.”

In reply to a clip of the segment, Barton wrote: “What a s**t bag!”

Social media users have since hit back at Barton.

One said: “@Joey7Barton He’s right tho ain’t he you just won’t admit cos you wanna be on other side of everything, strange man you.”

Another added: “@Joey7Barton If he’s upsetting you then he’s doing something right.”

A third claimed: “@Joey7Barton Thought you had left Twitter.”