Joey Barton has been slammed for ‘lacking in any sensitivity’ and accused of ‘heaping further pain and suffering’ on the family of teenager Anthony Walker after calling his racist murder a ‘f***ing scrap’.
Barton sparked outrage for his fresh comments regarding the racist murder of the 18-year-old by his brother Michael and cousin Paul Taylor in Huyton, Liverpool on July 30, 2005. Anthony, alongside his partner Louise and cousin Marcus Binns, were set upon by the pair in a “terrifying ambush”.
While Louis and Marcus were able to get away, Anthony was trapped and struck in the head with an ice axe by Taylor – with the weapon being embedded in his skull. The judge called the murder a “poisonous, racist attack”, with Taylor handed a minimum sentence of 23 years and Barton walking free in September 2022, after 17 years in prison.
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The ex-Bristol Rovers manager and former Premier League footballer has now spoken about the incident on YouTuber James English’s podcast. He said: "My brother lost 17 years of his life from 17, because his mate, who was his cousin at the time, thought it would be a fantastic idea, when they were having a f***ing scrap, to pull an ice axe out and swing it into somebody and it stuck in his head."
Following Barton’s comments, Daily Star Sport approached The Anthony Walker Foundation for comment. Their powerful statement has called upon the former Premier League midfielder to reflect ‘on the impact of his words’.
The heartbreaking statement reads: “The Anthony Walker Foundation has become aware of an excerpt from a James English podcast featuring Joey Barton, wherein he refers to the murder of Anthony Walker by his brother Michael.
“We consider his description of Anthony’s murder as factually incorrect, lacking in any sensitivity given the serious nature of the incident, in which Anthony Walker tragically lost his life to a violent racially motivated attack by Mr Barton’s brother and his cousin Paul Taylor.
“This year is the eighteenth anniversary of Anthony's murder, so we express our hope that Mr Barton will reflect on the impact of his words and the profound significance of the actions of his brother as he walks the street a free man. It is worth noting that Michael Barton did not lose 17 years of his life, the only life lost that day was Anthony’s and not for 17 years, but forever.
“It saddens us that someone with his reach and status would seem to trivialize the incident that led to such an outcome and heap further pain and suffering upon the family and friends of Anthony.
“The Anthony Walker Foundation will continue to strive for a more inclusive world where such an incident never reoccurs. Our charity will continue to tackle racism, hate crime and discrimination by providing educational opportunities and victim support services and by promoting equity and inclusion for all.”
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