The ongoing legal battle between Joey Barton and former England star Eni Aluko is heating up, with Barton’s legal team dismissing the libel claim against him as “unreasonable.”
Aluko, a former Chelsea and England international, is suing the ex-Bristol Rovers manager over two posts he made on social media in January.
The first hearing of the case took place at the High Court in London, where Aluko was present to observe the proceedings.
The Nature of the Claims
The court was tasked with determining the “natural and ordinary meaning” of Barton’s posts and whether they could be interpreted as implying dishonesty or hypocrisy on Aluko’s part.
Gervase de Wilde, representing Aluko, argued that the posts would lead readers to believe Aluko was “laughable and unreasonable.”
In response, William McCormick KC, acting for Barton, called the accusations “strained, forced, and unreasonable.”
The Social Media Controversy
The dispute began in January when Barton made a controversial post on X (formerly Twitter) that Aluko deemed defamatory.
Barton wrote, “More has come to light about poor, little Eni Aluko. Dad was a Nigerian Senator. Dodgy money. Ran to England. Massive house in Wentworth. 3 Rolls Royce’s. St Mary’s in Ascot private education. Lawyer. Race card player.”
Aluko quickly condemned the post, calling it false and damaging.
She stated, “Joey Barton recently published a post on X which made untrue, inaccurate, and defamatory allegations about me and my family.”
Aluko also expressed how hurtful it was that Barton involved her late father, a respected Nigerian senator, suggesting he had been involved in corrupt dealings.
She emphasized the emotional toll the allegations had on her, especially considering the timing of the post, which came after she had expressed concerns about her safety following previous online posts from Barton.
A History of Controversial Remarks
This legal dispute isn’t the first time Barton has found himself in hot water for his social media activity.
In January, Barton sparked outrage after another online attack on Aluko and fellow pundit Lucy Ward following a FA Cup match.
He wrote, “How is she even talking about men’s football? She can’t even kick a ball properly. Your coverage of the game EFC last night, took it to a new low. Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, the Fred and Rose West of football commentary.”
These remarks were widely criticized, with ITV condemning them as “vindictive” and Women in Football voicing support for Aluko and Ward.
Previous Legal Issues
Barton has a history of legal issues stemming from his social media posts.
He recently settled a libel claim with broadcaster Jeremy Vine, agreeing to pay £110,000 after suggesting that Vine had a sexual interest in children.
Barton’s online behavior has earned him widespread criticism, with his comments often drawing strong backlash for being inflammatory and offensive.
What Happens Next?
As the case moves forward, the court will issue a written decision at a later date.
The outcome of the hearing will determine whether Barton’s posts were indeed defamatory and whether Aluko is entitled to compensation for the harm caused.
For now, both parties are awaiting the next steps in what could be a long and contentious legal battle.