What started as a difference of opinion has now erupted into a full-blown feud.
Former footballer Joey Barton has reignited tensions with Gary Neville, taking their long-standing disagreement to a shockingly personal and expletive-filled level.
Barton Fires Shots in Explosive Podcast Rant
On the latest episode of his podcast, Joey Barton didn’t hold back.
Addressing past comments made by Neville and revisiting old drama, the ex-Manchester City midfielder unleashed a brutal tirade.
Referring to Neville and his family as “f***ing weirdos,” Barton warned that if they ever cross paths, Neville would be “terrorised.”
The gloves, according to Barton, are now completely off.
“He crossed the threshold for me,” he said. “When he sided with ITV against me, that was it.
I was already getting hammered for what I said, and then Gaz jumped in to add more fuel. Didn’t need that.”
From Punditry to Personal Insults
Barton didn’t stop at criticism—he spiraled into mockery.
He bizarrely accused Neville and his family of all sharing a bed as children, called out Neville’s wife Emma, and even joked about his private life.
He mocked Neville’s supposed desire for a knighthood, accused him of having robotic sex routines, and imagined him watching explicit content while blasting Linkin Park music.
The insults were wild, graphic, and deeply personal.
“Basically, he’s a freak of nature,” Barton declared.
“If you got his hard drive, I bet you he watches porn with rock music in his ears.
Now that Sir David [Beckham] got a knighthood, he’s dying for one too.
Wait until you see the level of a**-kissing coming up.”
The Root of It: Barton’s Controversial Comments on Female Broadcasters
This whole public spat can be traced back to comments Barton made last season.
He drew widespread backlash after comparing broadcasters Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West.
Many, including ITV and Gary Neville, were outraged.
ITV condemned Barton’s remarks as “contemptible and shameful,” highlighting the danger of such gender-based attacks, especially in a space where women are still fighting for equal representation.
Neville publicly supported that statement, saying Barton had “gone too far.”
Barton Hits Back at Neville’s Criticism
Instead of backing down, Barton retaliated. He warned Neville to “keep your head down” or risk getting “emptied,” implying a physical confrontation.
“I know ITV pays your wages,” he added. “But I don’t want to have to put you away.”
In his mind, Neville’s public support of ITV’s statement was a betrayal that deserved this over-the-top response.
Neville Stands Firm With Family Values
Though Gary Neville has largely avoided engaging directly with Barton since the initial fallout, his statement after Barton’s initial sexist remarks made his stance clear.
Neville tied the issue to his personal experiences—his daughters, his mother, his sister, and his brother—all of whom had faced various barriers and challenges in football and sport.
He emphasized that such misogynistic attacks only discourage women from pursuing careers in sport or media.
“It’s already hard enough for women to succeed,” he said. “This kind of commentary sets us all back.”
Where Does It Go From Here?
With Barton refusing to back down and taking things even further into personal territory, it’s unclear whether Neville will respond directly or continue to stay out of the fray.
As of now, both men have been contacted for comment, but neither has issued a follow-up statement.
What is clear, though, is that this feud has moved well beyond football.
And if Barton’s words are any indication, he’s not planning on letting it die down anytime soon.