Rangers suspend midfielder Joey Barton for three weeks

Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has been suspended for three weeks, the club have announced.
On Monday, Barton ended a five-day enforced absence from the club with a meeting at Ibrox, where he is reported to have met manager Mark Warburton and board members.
The 34-year-old confirmed last week that he was told to stay away from the club for several days in order to “re-evaluate the way I’m thinking” following a heated argument involving teammate Andy Halliday in the wake of Rangers’ 5-1 defeat to Celtic.
A club statement on Monday morning read: “JOEY BARTON has today been suspended by the club and will not return to Ibrox or Auchenhowie for a period of three weeks.
“The manager, Mark Warburton, and club believe that time and space is required for both the club and the player to assess all that has happened.
“Neither party will make any further statement or comment on this issue.”
Speaking after he emerged from Monday’s meeting, Sky Sports News had asked Barton whether
he remained a Rangers player, but he replied only: “I think so.”
Barton, who moved to Ibrox on a free transfer in the summer, was absent as Rangers continued their indifferent start to the season with a goalless Ibrox draw against Ross County on Saturday.
Manager Mark Warburton refused to discuss the former Newcastle and Manchester City player’s situation after the game, describing it as an “internal matter.”
The midfielder lifted the lid on last Tuesday’s training-ground dispute during a live radio interview on talkSPORT three days later.
Barton declared himself “as committed to Glasgow Rangers as the day I signed,” but also implied criticism of the way Warburton had handled the situation and cast doubt on his desire to change his ways.
He said on Friday: “We’re asked for an opinion and I’m someone who gives an opinion. Two passionate Rangers players have then shared opinions on how we get better as a team and what’s going wrong for us. It’s nothing more and nothing less than that.
“Obviously sometimes the way I communicate can be a bit blunt and a bit direct and it ruffles people’s feathers, which I know I have to work at, but I don’t apologise for trying to win. I care deeply about playing football.”
Barton, who signed a two-year contract in the summer, added: “The way it’s been handled is strange. When you look at my history and you’re told to stay away from the club, it does look like something more has happened, and that’s why I’ve decided to get on the radio and speak, because it’s wrong.”