Joey Barton launches new social media attack ahead of Rebecca Welch becoming first female Premier League referee

Joey Barton has launched a fresh social media attack ahead of Rebecca Welch becoming the first female referee in the Premier League.

The 40-year old will make history for women in football on Saturday when she takes charge of Fulham vs Burnley at Craven Cottage.

She has officiated the Women's FA Cup final in both 2017 and 2020 and was over in Australia for the Women's World Cup in the summer.

Welch became the first female referee to take charge of a full EFL game when she officiated Harrogate vs Port Vale in 2021 and made her Championship debut earlier this year, again making history.

She served as fourth official during Manchester United's 1-0 win over Fulham last month.

But Barton has again weighed in with a negative view on the watershed moment, questioning whether Welch will be able to "keep up with play" and "make correct calls".

Continuing his personality of putting down females in football, he also said the appointment "stinks of tokenism".

Image: Getty

Taking to X, he wrote: "Fast tracked. RW was in League 2 a couple of years ago. I’m not sure she is good enough just yet. I hope she does well because it will set women back otherwise.

"I will be surprised if she has the athletic ability to keep up with play and see the full picture to make correct calls.

"Hope she doesn’t slow the game down to her speed, so she can survive the physical expenditure needed at PL level.

"Stinks of Tokenism. Let’s watch this space."

Image: Getty

Barton's comments come after he said women presenters and commentators aren't "qualified" to speak about men's football.

More recently, he was critical of Mary Earps' BBC Sports Personality of the Year win and claimed he would score 100 out of 100 penalties against her.

Barton also agreed with Piers Morgan's comments and said UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards should have been nominated.

Another monumental move in the referee selection sees Sam Allison became the first black referee in the Premier League since Uriah Rennie in 2008 when he is the middle for Sheffield United vs Fulham on Boxing Day.