Britain’s sports minister Stuart Andrew has vowed to put pressure on social media companies in the wake of Joey Barton’s ‘dangerous and disgusting comments’.

The former Man City and Newcastle midfielder has been intensely criticised in recent weeks for a series of sexist jibes against women, who he claims ‘aren’t qualified’ to talk about men’s football. 

His latest attack was aimed at former Chelsea and England star Eniola Aluko and Lucy Ward, an ex-footballer turned commentator, during their coverage of last Thursday’s FA Cup third-round clash between Crystal Palace and Everton for ITV. 

Barton claimed the broadcaster reached a ‘new low’ by having Aluko and Ward in the studio, bizarrely comparing the pair to Fred and Rose West.

The Wests murdered 12 women and young girls over the course of 20 years. Fred took his own life before facing trial while Rose was sentenced to 10 life terms. She remains in prison aged 70. 

Joey Barton has made a series of sexist comments against female working in football

Joey Barton has made a series of sexist comments against female working in football

Britain's sports minister Stuart Andrew has branded the comments 'dangerous and disgusting'

Britain’s sports minister Stuart Andrew has branded the comments ‘dangerous and disgusting’

‘How is she even talking about Men’s football,’ Barton wrote on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.  

‘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.’ 

While Barton’s rants appear an attempt to gain publicity ahead of the launch of his podcast, Andrew insisted he must be held accountable.

Speaking at a Department for Culture, Media and Sport select committee on Tuesday, he said: ‘These are dangerous comments that open the floodgates for abuse and that’s not acceptable. 

‘I’m slightly wary that these sort of people want the oxygen and I don’t want to fuel that.’ 

He added that he would ‘happily’ speak to social media companies in regards to Barton’s rant and noted broadcast regulator Ofcom was also obliged to issue guidance under the new Online Safety Act.

He savaged Eni Aluko for working on Everton's game against Crystal Palace - saying she 'can't even kick a ball properly'

He also made a sick taunt towards Aluko and broadcaster Lucy Ward

He slammed Eni Aluko for working on Everton’s game against Palace – saying she ‘can’t even kick a ball properly’ – before making a sick taunt towards her and broadcaster Lucy Ward

Barton called Aluko and Ward 'the Fred and Rose West of football commentary'. The notorious serial killers are known to have committed at least 12 murders over a period of 20 years

Barton called Aluko and Ward ‘the Fred and Rose West of football commentary’. The notorious serial killers are known to have committed at least 12 murders over a period of 20 years 

Andrew’s statement came in response to by the Sunderland MP Julie Elliott, who described Barton’s posts as ‘very disturbing’ and questioned why Meta – the company which operates Facebook – would host Barton’s podcast.

Barton’s latest tirade prompted a stern response from ITV. 

‘For Joey Barton, an ex-professional player with a significant social media presence, to target two of our pundits, Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, with such vindictive remarks based on gender and to invoke the names of serial killers in doing so is clearly contemptible and shameful on his part,’ the broadcaster said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the former Premier League footballer’s ‘warped, wicked views’ have been strongly condemned by Daily Mail associate editor Stephen Wright.

Wright was speaking to It’s All Kicking Off hosts Ian Ladyman and Chris Sutton on the back of his powerful article, in which he said Barton’s serial killer comparison was an obscene new low for a deluded, sexist thug

ITV denounced Barton's criticism of Aluko and Ward as 'shameful' and 'contemptible'

ITV denounced Barton’s criticism of Aluko and Ward as ‘shameful’ and ‘contemptible’ 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, with a show every Monday and Thursday this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

‘There is a line which you must not cross and I think he’s crossed that line by several country miles in this attack,’ Wright, who has covered crime for the Mail for 30 years, said. 

‘If he wants to or was capable of making an intellectual argument, well, do it. Do it. 

‘But don’t compare these ITV commentators, one of whom I listen to quite a lot, Lucy Ward on TNT, formerly BT Sport, and she’s a very articulate and incisive commentator. Don’t compare these pundits to serial killers. 

‘I mean, it is the most absurd, unnecessary comparison you can make. He cheapened the whole argument and made it worse by doubling down, trying to defend it. It’s indefensible what he has done.’

Barton also invoked the memory of soldiers who fought in the First World War – including his grandfather – to justify his attacks against women in football. 

He also suggested that he would have to be killed before he could be cancelled, branding himself a ‘lone wolf’. 

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Post source: Daily mail

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