Barton is denied visa to enter US

The footballer Joey Barton has been left counting the cost of past troubles after being denied a visa to travel to the United States with his team, Newcastle United.

Despite an improving reputation, the £5.8m midfielder, who spent two months in jail for a drunken assault on a 16-year-old in 2008, was ordered to stay at home. He was told by the US authorities that he will have to spend five years out of trouble before he will be allowed into the country.

Barton, 28, a former England player, said: "I regret not being able to travel with the club on this trip, but at the same time, I don't expect to be treated any differently or more favourably than anyone else in a similar situation."

But later he remonstrated with the unfairness of the decision on Twitter, saying: "Totally hypocrisy considering what they get up to, but rules are rules."

Barton's teammate, Nile Ranger, 20, was also denied entry to the US. He served an 11-week sentence, when he was 15, for armed robbery.