Barton fined but staying at QPR

QPR have stripped Joey Barton of the club captaincy and fined him six weeks' wages following his sending off on the final day of the season.



Barton was handed a 12-match ban for his sending-off and subsequent actions in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester City on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season.



The 29-year-old was hit with the lengthy ban and fined STG75,000 by a Football Association-appointed independent regulatory commission after being dismissed for elbowing Carlos Tevez, then kicking out at Sergio Aguero as he left the pitch in the match on May 13, before aiming a headbutt in the direction of Vincent Kompany.



QPR decided not to appeal the suspension but launched an internal inquiry into his actions and following the lengthy investigation the Loftus Road outfit confirmed he is to be stripped of the captaincy and fined six weeks’ wages.



Barton signed for QPR on a lucrative four-year contract last summer and was immediately handed the captain's armband by then manager Neil Warnock. Following Mark Hughes’ appointment he retained the captaincy but he now faces the possibility of having his contract terminated if ‘he seriously breaches the Club's disciplinary procedures again’.



A statement from QPR read: "Following a full internal investigation, Queens Park Rangers Football Club can confirm Joey Barton has been fined six weeks' wages and will no longer be Club Captain.



"The 29 year-old midfielder will also be absent from the Club's pre-season tour of Asia in July.



"The Club has also reached agreement with Barton that if he seriously breaches the Club's disciplinary procedures again, the Club reserves the right to terminate his contract.



"CEO Philip Beard said: "It was important that we took our time to make sure we came to the correct decision, which I believe we have achieved.



"Joey's behaviour, which led to his red card at Manchester City, and his subsequent actions were completely unacceptable and we have made our feelings on this matter known to him.



"I am really pleased with the way in which the Club and Joey have worked towards reaching a sensible conclusion and we fully believe he will respond to these sanctions in the correct manner."



Barton said: "My behaviour was wrong and I accept the punishment that has been imposed upon me as a result.



"I apologise to the Manager, my team-mates and of course the QPR fans for my actions. I also apologise to the Manchester City players, staff and supporters."