Joey Barton reveals French death threat
Controversial midfielder makes light of bizarre warning letter

QPR midfielder Joey Barton has revealed details of a death threat he received while playing in France for Marseille.
The outspoken footballer tweeted a photograph of a letter which was sent to him at La Commanderie, the training ground of the French side Olympique de Marseille, where he spent a year on loan.
Found some old 'fan mail'. Amazing what some people consider 'A little friendly advice' these days...? pic.twitter.com/MheWN8xvaW — Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) December 10, 2014
The incoherent letter, which Barton sarcastically refers to as “fan mail”, threatens to “smash your head shots baseball bat” and warns Barton he will "die a knife open mouth since emptied your blood b**tard". In a subsequent tweet, the footballer commented: "Not sure what's more offensive, the grammar or the intent?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The letter is signed “Cvetko Ivanovic” and includes a return address in Paris. Barton posted a Google Maps image of the Paris address, writing next to the picture of a block of flats: "By the way his gaff looks nice..."
By the way his gaff looks nice... pic.twitter.com/Fp5GNvB5pt — Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) December 10, 2014
The midfielder left France after a year on-loan at Marseille. His stay ended in controversy after he was given a suspended two-match ban for saying PSG defender Thiago Silva looked like an "overweight ladyboy".
The one-cap Englishman has often hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. In 2004 he was fined six weeks' wages by Manchester City after he stubbed a cigar in the eye of a young team-mate during a Christmas party. Then, in 2007 he received a suspended jail sentence and was given a 12-match ban for a training ground scrap with team-mate Ousmane Dabo, which left him needing hospital treatment.
The following year he was jailed for six months for common assault and affray after a late-night attack on a man in Liverpool. In 2012 he was given an unprecedented 12-game ban by the FA for violent conduct.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Test driving the Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge
The Week Recommends We take the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built for a spin in Barcelona
By Fergus Scholes Published
-
Tuberculosis is seeing a resurgence, and it's only going to get worse
Under the radar The spread of the deadly infection is buoyed by global unrest
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: April 3, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published