Joey Barton was sued for defamation by former England striker Eni Aluko and was ordered to pay more than £300,000 in damages and legal costs after losing the case.
Joey Barton ordered to pay Eni Aluko (Image: AFP, Getty Images)
Joey Barton has been told to pay Eni Aluko more than £300,000 in damages and legal costs after being sued for defamation.
Former England striker and pundit Aluko has launched a legal action against Barton over two posts he made on social media site X in 2024.
On Tuesday, the High Court ordered the case to be stayed and Mr Burton to pay “substantial” damages and Ms Aluko’s legal costs.
Gervase de Wilde, on behalf of Aluco, falsely claimed that Barton “cynically sought to exploit her position as an alleged victim of racism and bullying” in her Two X posts, calling her a hypocrite.
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Mr Barton, who previously managed Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers, did not attend the hearing and Mr de Wilde told the court: “He was arrested yesterday and is currently in custody.”
The barrister said Barton published 48 posts related to Mr Aluko on his X account between January and August 2024, adding: “He waged a deliberately targeted public campaign of defamation.”
De Wilde said one post included an image of Arco’s head superimposed on the body of serial killer Rosemary West.
Eni Aluko was targeted by Joey Barton on social media (Image: 2024 Getty Images)
He added: “This campaign amounted to an attack on many aspects of her life and personality.”
“Mr. Barton’s campaign caused Ms. Aluko great distress. When she tried to protect herself from the actions of Mr. Barton and his supporters, Mr. Aluko criticized and attacked them,” it added.
Ms de Wilde said she was worried that even if Ms Aluko tried to stop the harassment, Burton would “exploit the harassment and manipulate her into attacking her”.
The barrister continued: “Mr Burton accepted that his campaign against Mr Aluko amounted to harassment and should not have been published.”
Joey Barton ordered to pay £339,000 (Image: PA)
According to a court order seen by the Press Association, Barton was ordered to pay an initial £100,000 plus interest of £339,000 by March 24.
Judge Lavender gave Burton seven days to seek a modification of the order.
Ms Aluko appeared in a London court on Tuesday and told PA after the hearing: “I’m glad it’s over.”
