Joey Barton has brought up old tensions with his former manager, Mark Hughes, accusing him of “acting the ****” during their brief time together at QPR.
This new twist in their long-standing feud sheds light on the rocky relationship between the two during their time at the Premier League club.
The QPR Saga: A Brief and Tumultuous Relationship
In January 2012, Mark Hughes took over as manager of QPR, a club struggling against relegation.
At the time, Barton was the club’s captain, and he played a crucial role during that difficult season.
Barton featured 16 times under Hughes as QPR narrowly avoided relegation, staying in the Premier League on the final day of the season.
However, Barton’s season ended controversially.
He was sent off during QPR’s dramatic 3-2 loss to Manchester City on the last day of the campaign, a result that handed City the title.
Following this, Barton was given a 12-match ban for violent conduct, lost his captaincy, and was fined. He left the club shortly after, joining Marseille on loan.
Barton Speaks Out on Their Clash
During a recent appearance on the ‘The Dozen’ podcast with Liam Tuffs, Barton opened up about his strained relationship with Hughes.
He shared a vivid memory of confronting Hughes in his office, where tensions boiled over. “I told him when I locked the door in his office, ‘this is not a football argument.
This is me and you for the rest of our lives,’” Barton said.
He made it clear that this wasn’t just about football; it was deeply personal.
“Don’t forget, you’re 20-odd years older than me, and you might be 75 on a beach in Dubai, and the last person you want to see is me,” Barton added.
He also hinted that if given the chance, he would make it “1-1” with Hughes.
Barton Blasts Hughes’ Leadership Style
Barton didn’t hold back in describing Hughes’ management style.
He accused the former Manchester United legend of trying to “psychologically dominate” him and using him as an example for the rest of the team.
“He just acted the ****,” Barton said.
“He thought being the manager meant he could do whatever he wanted to you.”
He elaborated on his frustrations, saying Hughes was living in a “football fairytale land” and failed to understand the real world beyond the sport.
“It’s fine to try to dominate someone if you’re capable of it, but if you’re not, it can really blow up in your face. And it did for him.”
A Close Encounter Years Later
Years later, in Dubai, Barton claims he ran into Hughes at a pool with his children.
Barton recalled that Hughes noticed him and, realizing the tension was still there, tried to avoid him.
“He had to walk around the other way because I see him look over and go, ‘oh for f*** sake,’” Barton said.
Despite the long time that had passed, Barton made it clear the issue was far from resolved.
Barton Once Offered to Fight Hughes
This wasn’t the first time Barton had mentioned a physical confrontation with Hughes.
Back in 2016, Barton revealed he had locked Hughes in his office and challenged him to a fight to settle their differences.
“I followed him into his office, locked the door and said, ‘Come on, let’s just sort this out. Me and you.
The only way to sort this out is to have a fight,’” Barton recalled.
He described how the situation escalated, with Hughes initially baffled by the suggestion.
“You’re treating me like a khead, you think I’m a khead,” Barton had said to him.
Ultimately, Barton claimed Hughes refused, stating that as the manager of the club, he couldn’t fight him.
What’s Next for Barton and Hughes?
After retiring from football in 2018, Barton went on to manage Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers.
However, he has not been in charge of a club since being dismissed by Bristol Rovers in October 2023.
Meanwhile, Hughes continues his managerial career, recently taking over at League Two side Carlisle United.
While the two may no longer share a footballing environment, it’s clear that the personal rivalry between Barton and Hughes will continue for some time.
Their saga remains one of the most memorable and controversial player-manager relationships in recent football history.