Joey Barton attacks ITV's FA Cup third round pundit team with sick taunt about Eni Aluko and commentator Lucy Ward as he claims their reporting has reached 'a new low'

Joey Barton continued his taunts against female pundits by attacking the ITV team ahead of Crystal Palace's FA Cup third round match against Everton – while posting a disgusting message about Eni Aluko and commentator Lucy Ward.

The former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks for his controversial views on women working in men's football. He said female experts “are not allowed to speak to any authority” in the arena.

The outspoken 41-year-old – known for putting out a cigar in a young teammate's eyes at a Christmas party – has blasted female pundits such as Alex Scott and Bianca Westwood in social media rants over the past month.

Now he has taken aim at Aluko and Ward, who worked in Thursday night's 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park, as he leveled a sick taunt at the pair and said ITV's reporting had reached 'a new low'.

Barton's post on

He insulted pundit Eni Aluko for working Everton's match against Palace – saying she 'can't even kick a ball properly' before ridiculing her and presenter Lucy Ward.

'How is she even talking about men's football? She can't even kick a ball properly,” the post said.

He added: “Your coverage of the EFC match last night took it to a new low.

The last line of his message made a nasty reference to two infamous serial killers, as he said: “Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, the Fred and Rose West football commentary.”

Barton's post is the latest in a series of attacks on women working in football.

On Boxing Day, Barton – who was jailed for a brawl in 2008 – targeted Amazon Prime Video Sport for including former Liverpool goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis as a pundit for their 2-0 win over Burnley, saying her inclusion was 'nonsense'. symbolism'.

It is not the first time he has aimed at a goalkeeper.

He previously launched a tirade after Mary Earps won the sports personality of the year award, calling her a 'big bag of spuds'

He boasted he would score '100 out of 100 penalties' against Mary Earps after she won the Sports Personality of the Year award earlier this month.

Barton also called it “dangerous” for women to work at men's clubs because they “have full-scale businesses and cost people marriages.”

Barton even went on Piers Morgan Uncensored to double down on his comments: in which he explained that he did not want to be seen as advocating sexism, but that he was against 'unconditional opinions'.

'I don't want to see sexism in football, but if we don't properly debate the role of women in football broadcasting, this will just rise and rise and ruin the experience of watching men's football at elite level. Barton said when Morgan asked him if the language in his social media posts had been deliberately inflammatory.

'Everywhere you look now there's some unqualified opinion pontificating about the sport I love, and it's ruining my experience – to fuel this woke agenda, and it's going to massively increase sexism because it has to be a true meritocracy . We need people qualified to fill these roles.”

The former Premier League footballer has also launched attacks against pundits such as Alex Scott in the past

Barton doubled down on his controversial views when he appeared on Piers Morgan: Uncensored last month

'There are many similarities between the two sports, but the men play at a completely different pace and require different skills. If someone stood there and said, “I would have done this,” or “He made a mistake” – who has no experience with that…

“It's not just one or two, the football broadcasts have been taken over.

'I don't want to sound sexist, I have a wonderful wife, a wonderful daughter and a grandmother.

“We want it to be diverse and inclusive, but it has to be credible.”

It was Barton's first tweet to spark outrage, with him insisting he “can't take anything they say seriously” when it comes to the men's arena.

'Women are not allowed to speak with any form of authority in the men's game. Come on. Let's be serious.

'It's a completely different game. If you don't accept that. We will always see things differently.

“The women's game is flourishing. Fantastic to see. I can't take what they say in the men's arena seriously.”

Barton has previously expressed his support for the #HERGAMETOO initiative, which aims to combat sexism in sports

Barton's posts come after he previously expressed his support for the #HERGAMETOO initiative – a campaign that aims to combat sexism in sport.

Barton posed with a promotional card for the cause when he was manager of Bristol Rovers.

He also caused controversy in October after voicing his apparent support for former Newcastle and England manager Kevin Keegan's comments that he does not like female footballers talking about men's football.

Speaking at a live event in Bristol, Keegan had said: '(I don't like) listening to ladies talking about the England men's team during the match because I don't think it's the same experience. I have a problem with that.'

In response, Barton had posted to X: “Kevin Keegan. Ballon D'or winner 1978. England manager. He's ready.'