Barton attacked for homophobic remarks

PARIS (AFP) –

Marseille’s British midfielder Joey Barton reacts at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, on December 9, 2012. Paris Saint Germain and gay rights campaigners on Wednesday criticised controversial English midfielder Barton after he posted homophobic insults on Twitter.

Paris Saint Germain and gay rights campaigners on Wednesday criticised controversial English midfielder Joey Barton after he posted homophobic insults on Twitter.

Barton, who is currently on loan at Ligue 1 club Marseille from Queen’s Park Rangers, took to Twitter to describe Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil captain Thiago Silva as a “pussy” and “a overweight ladyboy”.

PSG immediately issued a statement dubbing Barton’s comments “unacceptable”.

The Parisians observed that “unacceptable words directed at Paris Saint Germain player Thiago Silva have been used by Olympique de Marseille player Joey Barton.

“These attacks are serious and go beyond mere verbal jousting,” PSG added, saying both the club and Silva would consider what action to take in response.

The insults came after Silva criticised Barton in an interview with L’Equipe published on Tuesday.

In a statement, Paris Foot Gay, an amateur club with a large number of gay players who campaign against homophobia in football and society as a whole, said that Barton “undoubtedly based his remarks on stereotypes linking Brazil to transsexualism.”

“Paris Foot Gay considers that such vulgar, discriminatory and unfunny remarks are unacceptable coming from people in the public eye,” the statement continued.

“Being a football idol is not an excuse but should instead make players more responsible for the impact their comments can have on the public, especially young people.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Marseille coach Elie Baup refused to take Barton to task for his comments, saying: “Barton is the only one responsible for his acts and his communication.”

“Everyone is free to say what they want but, for me, we represent the club and owe it to ourselves to behave in an exemplary manner.”

Paris Foot Gay added that the LFP, who run the French top flight, will take disciplinary action against Barton for his comments.