Joey Barton charged by Football Association for allegedly placing 1,260 bets

Joey Barton’s Burnley return could be over before it begins after the FA charged him with misconduct for allegedly placing 1,260 bets on football over a 10-year period. 

Burnley, who announced his re-signing on Tuesday, yesterday insisted they were unaware of the looming charge and manager Sean Dyche said his contract had only been agreed ‘in principle’. 

Professionals have been banned from betting on any football worldwide since 2014. 

Before that they could not bet on a match or competition in which they were involved or could influence. 

Barton has until January 5 to respond to the charge. 

he 34-year-old was handed a one-match suspension for breaking Scottish Football Association betting rules during his short stint at Rangers. 

The midfielder admitted breaching the SFA's zero-tolerance rules, which forbid players gambling on any match. 

He placed 44 bets on games between July 1, 2016 - when his Ibrox deal started - and September 15. 

His Scottish suspension will carry over into his Burnley career.