QPR's Barton gets 12-match ban for violent conduct

LONDON (AP) -- The English Football Association has banned Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton for 12 matches for repeated violent conduct in the last game of the Premier League season at Manchester City.

The midfielder was ejected for elbowing City's Carlos Tevez. He was charged with violent conduct for then kicking Sergio Aguero and trying to head-butt Vincent Kompany before being escorted off the field by his teammates.

Barton received an automatic four-match ban because the foul on Tevez earned him a second red card of the season.

The FA regulatory panel then gave him four-match suspensions for each of his violent actions after the dismissal.

The FA says "such behavior tarnishes the image of football in this country.''

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