Joey Barton, best known for his playing career at clubs like Newcastle and Manchester City, is never shy of controversy on or off of the pitch. Most recently, he’s taken to X to express his opinions on the state of modern football.

A word that appeared quite commonly amidst his flurry of posts was ‘gay’, a word which in the correct context is not an offensive term, but fans have taken issue to the way Barton used it.

Openly gay football referee, Mikey Connor who appeared on season one of the BBC’s ‘I Kissed a Boy’, took to both TikTok and X to respond to Barton’s comments.

In the videos he said: “I’m actually not one of the people to call people out, but I feel like now is the time to actually call you out.

“What you’ve been doing over the course of the past year online and on social media, is damaging to a lot of people.”

Connor referenced a number of Barton’s tweets, where he believes Barton implied that football that he blames the ‘issues’ modern football faces on homosexuals.

Can’t bring myself to watch it anymore.

They’ve ruined it.

It’s proper gay. 🌈#WereHereToSaveFootball https://t.co/SXApyMUsIg

— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) October 20, 2024

“Over the weekend you’ve been tweeting a couple of tweets now known as X posts that football is only for gays and homosexuals.

“Joey Barton is making reference that because ‘football has gone soft’, or decisions are softer that’s why it’s gay, again homophobic.”

Connor was very level-headed and reasonable in these posts, and stated that he’s simply worried about other people involved in the game, and how they will feel about these posts.

“Joey, I don’t actually think you understand how damaging these tweets are, I’m not even talking about myself personally.

“For young kids, or people who are in the game or want to get into the game. What you are saying is that unless you are a certain way or if you are softer than a ‘strong man’, then you shouldn't be involved in football.”

The only openly-LGBT footballer in English football is 19-year-old Jake Daniels, who plays for Blackpool and came out in 2022.

“I don’t know if you know this, but there is only one openly gay footballer in English football. Do you ever wonder why there’s only one? We all know there’s a lot of gay players or maybe match officials or people within sports.

“When you see people like you who make comments like this, this is one of the reasons why people don’t come out.”

Connor also referenced previous communities Barton has commented on in football: “You’re saying to people that if you act a certain way, you’re not allowed in football. It’s not the first time he’s done it, you’re not happy with women being involved in football.

“We all know the women's game is different to the men’s game, it doesn’t mean they’re any less qualified to have an opinion.

“You can argue your points about football in a nicer way, and not reference or degrade a certain community.”

Joey Barton once tweeted this, about England Women’s goalkeeper Mary Earps.

I’d score 100 out of 100 penalties against Mary Earps.

Any day of the week.

Twice on a fucking Sunday. 👍👑#perspective

— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) December 20, 2023

Barton has yet to test his theory by taking 100 penalties against the ‘keeper.

“What you’re effectively saying is that unless you’re a macho man you can’t be involved in football.”

Connor couldn’t have been more clear that he disagrees with the message that Barton is posting.

“Football is for all, football is for everybody. Regardless of whether you’re gay or straight, you’re black or you’re white, you’re from a different part of the world, football is for everyone.

“Imagine if you had a son, and he’s grown up and wants to be a footballer, he’s good enough and he’s in an academy but he’s gay. How are you going to feel about that?”

Next, Connor spoke about the influence Barton’s posts could have on former fans of the ex-midfielder.

“You’ve been at big, big clubs.

“Little kids growing up thinking Joey Barton’s a great player, and they’ve looked up to you, what happens if they’re gay? Now they’re seeing comments like that, it’s just wrong.”

While Connor appreciates that not everyone will have the same mindset as him, he encourages Barton to consider others before he acts in future.

“Just think before you press tweet, or send.

“If you feel football’s going a different way, that’s great you can have your opinion, but don’t be offensive.”

On the flip side, Joey Barton was one of the first footballers to campaign for LGBT-rights. He partnered with Stonewall and PaddyPower to spearhead the Rainbow Laces campaign back in 2013.

He told the Guardian: “By wearing them Rainbow-laced boots players could stand together and show that sexuality in sport doesn't matter which would take a big step towards not only kicking homophobia out of football but also pave the way for a more tolerant environment where in the future all players would feel like they could be open about their sexuality.”