Joey Barton agrees with Piers Morgan's controversial take on Mary Earps winning Sports Personality Of The Year

Joey Barton has agreed with Piers Morgan's controversial comments about Mary Earps' BBC Sports Personality of the Year award win.

Earps became the second successive England women's star to win the prize following on from Beth Mead's triumph last year.

The goalkeeper beat Stuart Broad and Katrina Johnson-Thompson to the gong after winning the Golden Glove at the Women's World Cup.

She saved a spot-kick in the final and went viral for her expletive-filled reaction.

But immediately after her win, Barton criticised the Manchester United shot-stopper and claimed he would be able to score 100 penalties past her.

It was another low remark made by Barton, who has continually put down females in football.

Image: Getty

He was grilled by Morgan for his views on Talk TV and recently invited to return for a penalty challenge against Earps.

Yet on Wednesday's show, Morgan said that he felt as though Earps' win was an example of "virtue-signalling box-ticking" and "a celebration of mediocrity".

Barton concurred, stating it was "almost perfectly put" by the the 58-year-old and that he was "bang on the money".

The former Manchester City, Newcastle and QPR midfielder also named UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards as his winner.

Image: Getty

Edwards finally won gold in August 2022 by knocking out Kamaru Usman, before besting him in the rematch and maintaining his composure to knock off Colby Covington last weekend.

He was not on the final list, which included horse racing legend Frankie Dettori, Alfie Hewett and Golf icon Rory McIlroy.

Responding to Morgan's piece, Barton said: "Almost perfectly put from @piersmorgan. Don’t always agree with him but he is absolutely on the money here.

"Only thing he missed is @Leon_edwardsmma. Why wasn’t he nominated?

"Genuinely World Class. A current World Champion?"

Earps seems unfazed by the noise, however. Earps basked in the glory by sharing a six-second TikTok of herself dancing to the song 'Left, Right' by rapper YG, grabbing the SPOTY trophy and proudly showing it to the camera.

Topics: Joey Barton, Leon Edwards

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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