Barton handed 12-match ban following his moments of madness in Manchester

The Football Association confirmed an independent regulatory commission yesterday found Barton guilty of two counts of violent conduct.

The FA announced Barton received an automatic four-game suspension, with the additional eight matches a consequence of the manner of his dismissal. He was also fined £75,000.

Barton was shown a red card at the Etihad Stadium for elbowing Carlos Tevez, and he then kicked Sergio Aguero before attempting to headbutt Vincent Kompany.

The acts were condemned by the chairman of the regulatory commission, who stated: “There are rules of conduct that should be adhered to, and such behaviour tarnishes the image of football in this country, particularly as this match was the pinnacle of the domestic season and watched by millions around the globe.”

QPR said they will now begin their own internal investigation.

Club spokesman Ian Taylor said on Twitter: “QPR will be making no comment in regard to the Joey Barton case. Internal investigation will begin in due course.”

Barton denied the charge of violent conduct against Kompany but the FA said the case against Barton was found to be proved.

An FA statement said: “An independent regulatory commission has dealt with two charges of violent conduct against Joey Barton, arising from the game against Manchester City, resulting in an eight-match suspension and £75,000 fine for the Queens Park Rangers midfielder.

“This eight-match suspension is to run consecutively to the four-game suspension Barton was already given for his dismissal in the fixture, making a total of 12 matches.”

The FA’s statement, outlining the reasons behind Barton’s long ban, said: “Following Barton’s dismissal in the 54th minute of the match, there followed two incidents involving Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany. As Barton had already been dismissed, both of these incidents fell outside the jurisdiction of the referee.

“Barton accepted the charge of violent conduct against Aguero but denied the second breach of violent conduct against Kompany. The independent regulatory commission, however, found this second charge proved.”

The FA’s regulatory panel had discretionary powers to further increase the length of the suspension if charges were found to be proven.

Barton’s admission on Twitter that his violent actions were a cynical ploy to provoke a City player to be sent off saw those discretionary powers employed.

Barton insisted via Twitter on the day of his sending-off that he had not lost his head, but that a team-mate “suggested I should try to take one of theirs with me”.