Barton 'Cigar Attack' Legal Fight

Source from:  news.sky.com UK, Friday August 15, 2008  08/25/2008

Premier League footballer Joey Barton is facing fresh legal action for allegedly ruining a former team-mate's career. Barton leaving prison in Manchester. The 25-year-old - recently released from prison for a city-centre attack - burned team-mate Jamie Tandy's eye with a lit cigar during Manchester City's Christmas party in 2004. Barton, now with Newcastle United, was fined by the club but did not face police action. But Tandy, then a trainee with City, says the incident ultimately forced him out of the game at the top level. Matthew Clayton, of Manchester-based law firm Ralli, said: "Mr Tandy is a client of ours and we are in the process of launching civil proceedings. "As a result of the assault by Joey Barton our client has suffered a major psychiatric deterioration in his health that has destroyed any chance he may have had of playing professional football at a high level. "Understandably this is a high-profile case and at this stage we are unable to comment further." Tandy, 23, of Whitefield, Greater Manchester, was released by City after breaking his leg while playing on loan with a Danish club. He is understood to be on the verge of joining non-league Hyde United on semi-professional terms. Barton's agent Willie McKay said later: "I only deal with football matters and do not wish to comment." Last month, the player was released from jail after serving 74 days of a six-month sentence for beating up a teenager in Liverpool city centre. He is currently serving a suspended sentence for a separate assault on ex-Manchester City colleague Ousmane Dabo in a training ground bust-up. The midfielder pleaded guilty to both attacks. Enditem