Joey Barton labelled 'coward' by Ousmane Dabo who wonders 'why red carpet is always rolled out for him?'

The disgraced Queens Park Rangers midfielder, currently serving a 12-match ban for various offences committed during the final match of last season, was greeted by Marseille fans with a banner reading ‘Sweet and Tender Hooligan’, a reference to a lyric by Barton’s favourite ban The Smiths.

But his arrival in France was less welcome for Ousmane Dabo, who suffered a detached retina when he was assaulted by Barton at the Manchester City training ground in 2007.

Barton was given a four-month suspended prison sentence for the offence and Dabo, who now plays in the United States, said Marseille should not be “rolling out the red carpet” for the Englishman.

Barton responded on Twitter last night by writing: “I see Dabo is yet to move on, I feel for him. What happened was unfortunate. Next time he should think twice about throwing his weight about.”

Dabo had told French newspaper L’Equipe: “Barton is lying about what happened on the training pitch at Manchester City. It is unbelievable. I am shocked.

“There was a trial, he pleaded guilty, and got a four-months suspended prison sentence. When he is talking, he denies it, he stated I have started it all. It is fake. All my team-mates that were present during the attack gave evidence for me during the trial.

“He tackled me, I replied by tackling him too. We found ourselves face-to-face. I had no intention to fight. I jostled him, but I didn’t hit him. So I turned back and then he struck me to the side of the head. I lost consciousness and, being on the ground, he jumped at me and went on hitting me in the face about 10 times.

“He says he is a man, a bad boy, but he is just a coward. I don’t want to give my truth, but the truth. Once again there was a trial.”

Dabo added: ”He is nasty, a traitor. Sometimes I feel people roll out the red carpet for him. So I talk to remind people Joey Barton is a very violent player, far away from the image he tries to give since he joined Marseille. It wears me out to talk again about that story five years later.”

Barton responded yesterday by tweeting: “I see Dabo is yet to move on, I feel for him. What happened was unfortunate. Next time he should think twice about throwing his weight about.” Later, he added: “If Ousmane wants to come to a Marseille game, have dinner and discuss it like adults, he’s more than welcome anytime. For me now, its over!”

Marseille have taken Barton for the season from Queens Park Rangers and he was in the stands for the club’s 3-1 win over against Rennes on Sunday, which took them to the top of the French league.

“I’ve come to Marseille to win trophies,” he said. “I don’t come for holidays or as a tourist. It is a challenge for me not only on a professional level but also personally, discovering a new culture.

“Did I have other contacts? Yes, I talked to Fenerbahce and Valencia. But I didn’t hesitate long when Marseille came, it was a good challenge for me.”

Barton responded to Dabo's comments via his Twitter account:

Dabo may find the lyics to Sweet and Tender Hooligan particularly relevant.

He was a sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan / And he said that he'd never, never do it again / And of course he won't (oh not until the next time)