THE Football Association have confirmed Joey Barton cannot play in a Grenfell Tower charity match because of his betting ban.
Barton has been left fuming after he was barred by the FA from taking part in the game raising funds for Grenfell Tower victims.
The midfielder was hoping to play in the Game4Grenfell – organised by former club QPR which is close to the site of the shocking blaze tragedy in North Kensington where at least 80 people died last month.
But the former England international was gutted to learn his 15-month ban for illegal betting also means he can’t even play in the fundraiser at Loftus Road.
The high-profile match will be played on September 2, with a team of ex-professional players facing a celebrity team including Damian Lewis, Tinie Tempah and Marcus Mumford.
Yet despite all funds raised going towards those affected by last month’s fire, Barton cannot feature as the FA have sanctioned the game.
Barton wrote on Twitter: “I would have loved to be supporting #Game4Grenfell at Loftus Road.
“But @FA have decided my ban extends to helping a great cause. So unfortunately, unless someone engages their brain, I won’t make it.”
The controversial midfielder is currently ruled out of any football activities until June next year having made hundreds of illegal bets on the outcome of football matches.
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He was initially suspended for 18 months but this week won an appeal against the length of the sentence, which was then reduced to 13 months.
Barton released a message sent to him by the Game4Grenfell organisers telling him he was not allowed to play.
It read: "Unfortunately the game is to be an FA sanctioned game, and to that end they have informed me that you will not be able to play in it due to your current ban.
"I just wanted to say that I am personally very sad about this and I am also incredibly grateful to you for the generous offer of your time."
At least 80 people perished in the inferno which grabbed hold of the West London tower block last month.
But the FA confirmed the suspension would prevent him playing - although they have stressed they are set to give £1.2m to Grenfell Tower victims themselves from Community Shield receipts.
An FA Spokesperson said: "The FA confirm that Joey Barton was banned from football and all football activity until 1st June 2018.
"This followed a breach of The FA's betting rules, where he admitted to placing 1,260 football-related bets between 26th March 2006 and 13th May 2016."
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