Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor believes that Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton deserves a lengthy ban for his outburst on the final day of the Premier League season.
The 29-year-old midfielder could face a 10-match suspension for appearing to elbow Carlos Tevez, as well as knee Sergio Aguero in the back and launch towards Vincent Kompany in a headbutt during QPR's 3-2 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
"If you come out with stuff like that you are going to deserve to be heavily sanctioned," said Taylor. "He is his own worst enemy when he says stuff like that and he has been upsetting a lot of people in the game with good reputations.
"We try to deal with Joey Barton and it is not getting any easier. I just feel sometimes like it is pushing a boulder up a hill, it slips back and you decide whether to go again.
"It has certainly been a backward step for him and his future in the game. There are people that seem to be improving and then slip back, it is a human condition. No-one is perfect but you only have one career."
The Football Association granted the controversial playmaker an extension until midday today to respond to a charge of two separate alleged acts of violent conduct.
Danielle Joynson
