Former professional footballer Joey Barton is confronting fresh legal turmoil as a High Court defamation trial brought against him by ex-England forward Eni Aluko has been scheduled for May 2026.
Court Findings and Allegations
This development follows Barton's recent conviction at Liverpool Crown Court, where he was found guilty on six counts of sending grossly offensive social media messages with intent to cause distress or anxiety. The messages targeted broadcaster Eni Aluko, her fellow football commentator Lucy Ward, and presenter Jeremy Vine.
In a significant pre-trial ruling last April, Justice Lavender determined that two messages Barton posted about Aluko on X in January 2024 were defamatory. The judge specifically noted that one post carried a defamatory innuendo meaning, while both messages contained Barton's controversial claims that Aluko played the "victim card" and "race card".
Mounting Legal Consequences
Aluko's civil case alleges that beyond the two defamatory posts, dozens of other messages sent by Barton constituted harassment. This claim relates to what has been described as a "lengthy online campaign" Barton waged against female football commentators and pundits throughout last year.
The legal troubles represent a costly pattern for the former Manchester City midfielder. Barton lost a separate defamation case brought by Jeremy Vine last year, which Vine states has already cost Barton more than £500,000. With sentencing for his recent criminal conviction scheduled for 8 December, and bail conditions prohibiting him from mentioning the three victims, Barton may consider settling with Aluko to avoid another substantial financial penalty determined in court.
Impact and Response
In a statement released after last week's verdict, Aluko expressed that Barton's messages had caused her significant distress and damaged her broadcasting career. She described social media as a "cesspit" where people hide behind freedom of speech, adding that the verdict served as a reminder that online actions have consequences.
While Barton was cleared of six additional counts of sending offensive messages during his recent trial, the scheduled High Court case and potential settlement negotiations mean the former footballer's legal battles are far from over. Both Aluko and Barton's legal representatives declined to comment when contacted about the forthcoming civil proceedings.
