Joey Barton, the Manchester City midfielder, is to be charged with misconduct by the Football Association for lowering his shorts to reveal his backside to Everton's supporters.
The FA's disciplinary department intend to indict Barton as soon as Merseyside police confirm that they will not be taking action of their own in relation to the incident at the end of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
Barton is expected to face a fine rather than a suspension but the former Everton trainee will not be disciplined by his own club. Stuart Pearce, the City manager, has reprimanded Barton but the club had decided against taking any further action and they will be dismayed that the FA seem willing to pursue the matter.
Although Pearce felt it necessary to remind Barton about his responsibilities, he also believes the midfielder is paying the price for having developed a reputation for controversy over the past few seasons. Pearce does not believe the incident would have been highlighted as much had it involved a different player and he is expected to speak out publicly about this factor when he next addresses the media.
City have also received several emails from Everton fans playing down the incident and asking the club not to take any internal action. One person apologised for the fact that one of his fellow supporters had made a complaint to the police given that Barton had been barracked throughout the match.
Barton's will be the third case involving a City player to come before the FA this season. The defender Ben Thatcher is serving an eight-match ban for his forearm smash on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes, and Ousmane Dabo lost an appeal after his red card for an elbowing offence in the defeat by Reading last month.
City's striker Georgios Samaras has been recalled to the Greek squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Norway and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bolton's Stelios Giannakopoulos is also in the squad.
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It's just bollocks really.Thankfully SP is,rightly IMO, not to take any action over Barton's stupid act.He seems to be learning fast in how to handle the dicks at the FA after the way they treated Thatcher.Can't wait to hear what he has to say next time he talks to the media.I hope he gives the FA some stick.