#1 Joey Barton – 18 months
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Another massively controversial figure in the game, Burnley midfielder Barton was most recently banned in April 2017 for a monstrous 18 months after he admitted to an FA misconduct charge due to his betting habits – he’d apparently made 1260 bets on football over a ten-year period, including betting on games he was involved in – arguably the biggest no-no in the sport due to fears of match-fixing.
For his part Barton seemed shocked by the length of the ban, suggesting lower-profile players may have gotten off with less, and that the FA were arguably encouraging gambling due to their relationship with online betting companies as sponsors.
He also admitted to having a gambling problem, and attempted to receive help for this as he had done with previous issues with anger management and alcohol.
Barton could certainly never be described as a “low-profile” player – he’s received nine red cards in his career, infamously lashed out at Sergio Aguero in 2012, fought with his teammates – including stubbing a cigar into Jamie Tandy while at Manchester City – been jailed for assault and affray, and accused of homophobia on numerous occasions after taunts at Fernando Torres and Thiago Silva.
In a way, it’s gobsmacking that his longest ban was for something as tame – in comparison – as gambling!
