Joey Barton says he was visited by the police “four times in three days” because of his tweets and denounces “an attempt to intimidate me and my family”… as he compares the United Kingdom to the North Korea

Joey Barton claimed he had been visited by police three times in the past four days and reported “attempts to intimidate me and my family” – before comparing the UK to North Korea.

The former Manchester City and Newcastle footballer revealed that some of his tweets led to several police visits to his home this week, with officers asking him for a voluntary interview.

He said that on one occasion, police officers knocked on his door while his children were sleeping and denounced any attempts to “intimidate” his family, saying the methods were similar to those used in North Korea.

Barton married his childhood friend Georgia McNeil in 2019. The couple have four children together: Cassius, born in 2011, Pieta, born in 2014, Penn, born in 2018, and Etienne, born in 2022.

“I’ve been visited by Cheshire Police 4 times in 3 days,” he said on X, later adding “either it’s a disaster or an attempt to intimidate me and my family”. Welcome to North Korea.

Joey pictured with childhood sweetheart Georgia McNeil, who he married in 2019

Barton told his 2.8 million followers on X: “I have been visited 4 times in 3 days by Cheshire Police. I’m requesting a voluntary interview about something I tweeted.

“Including a few policewomen who knocked at 9:30 p.m. last night while my children were in bed. I gave them my lawyer’s information and number.

“He then called to arrange an interview. No answer, so he left a voicemail for the sergeant who had come the first time.

“The last two women didn’t know that there had been 3 visits in 3 days, apparently! Either this is a disaster or an attempt to intimidate me and my family. Welcome to North Korea.

A concerned follower then responded to the tweet saying: “Send the police to people’s houses (sic) to investigate the tweets when there are actual street crimes happening under their noses every day.” »

Barton then replied: “I asked them that. I also asked both ladies if it looked a bit like the Soviet Union. They didn’t respond. I asked them if that was why they started policing. To track tweets.

“Such a waste of taxpayers’ money when there is widespread crime to combat right under their noses.”

Barton has launched repeated tirades against female football presenters and players in recent weeks

Joey Barton, then manager of Bristol Rovers, pictured during a Sky Bet League One match at Pride Park Stadium in October 2022

Barton kept her relationship with McNeil private, but the couple married in a ceremony at the Aynhoe Park country estate in Oxfordshire in 2019.

In 2021, Barton was accused of “kicking his wife in the head” and causing a “golf ball-sized lump” during an argument at their home in Kew, southwest of London.

However, in 2022, McNeil recanted her allegation and chose not to press charges after admitting she “drank a lot” and got the details wrong.

Barton was criticized this year for his tweets about women working in men’s football, infamously claiming that female pundits “should not speak with any authority” in the sport.

His tirades against women online also saw him compare pundit Eni Aluko and presenter Lucy Ward to notorious serial killers Fred and Rose West, while he claimed he would score 100 out of 100 penalties against the England goalkeeper Mary Earps.

Last month he angered fans after swearing at a 17-year-old Patrick Thistle goalkeeper. Ava Easdon following the youngster’s performance between the sticks during the Sky Sports Cup final and asked “how is this nonsense on the box”.

Among Barton’s most controversial comments was his assertion that it was “dangerous” for women to work in men’s clubs because they were “having full-blown affairs and costing people marriages”.

Partick Thistle goalkeeper Ava Easdon was at the center of Joey Barton’s ire last month after the 17-year-old turned out for his side in the Sky Sports Cup final.

Barton also targeted Eni Aluko (left) and Lucy Ward (right) compared the experts to serial killers Fred and Rose West.

Barton has previously revealed how he got into trouble for his tweets – after publishing a legal letter from Aluko’s lawyers after launching into a rant against the expert.

Barton wrote: “Another day. Another letter from Samuel’s lawyers.

“Eni Aluko is now joining Jeremy Vine and suing me for saying she is not very good at her job. Interestingly, they both use the same lawyers.

“What kind of law firm messages you on Instagram?” Pranksters.

This came after Barton admitted that comparing Aluko to Fred and Rose West was “a bit harsh” before saying she was more like former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin.

He took to X to write: “On reflection, I feel like I was a little harsh on Eni Aluko by comparing her to Rose West.

“I had some time to reflect on the impact of my words after @itvfootball’s big statement.

“She is clearly in the Joseph Stalin/Pol Pot category. She has murdered hundreds of thousands of football fans’ ears in recent years. Meritocracy rules! »

Barton took to social media to reveal messages sent by lawyers claiming to represent Aluko.

Barton played 435 games during an acrimonious career which saw him hit the headlines for a series of controversial incidents.

In 2004, Barton stuck a cigar in the eye of fellow Man City squad member Jason Tandy during a drunken Christmas party.

Barton said his outburst was sparked after young star Tandy provoked him, setting his T-shirt on fire before the brawl, leading to the football bad boy being fined six weeks’ wages and an apology to disheartened boss Kevin. Keegan.

Four years later, Barton found himself in the spotlight again after a training ground brawl with his former teammate, Ousmane Dabo, which saw tough-guy Barton handed a six-match ban by the FA in 2008.

The outspoken former midfielder was also the manager of Bristol Rovers from February 2021 until his dismissal in October last year.

He was recently described as a “bully”, the youngest recruitment manager in English football, who worked with Barton while he was at the club.

Former Bristol Rovers analyst and current Head of Recruitment at Aldershot Town, Jamie Hedges, spoke about his experience with Barton earlier this month.

He claimed he was asked to do “50 holds” before being told he was “crap” in front of other staff.