Overview

• Speaking on his Common Sense podcast, Barton rejected Rooney’s suggestion that the Manchester City vs QPR finale was a bent fixture.
• He defended goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and said prior links to City among some QPR players did not affect the game, emphasising the team’s focus on Premier League survival.
• Barton referenced his own sending-off that day and said he had been urged by Bobby Zamora to try to get an opponent dismissed.
• He delivered an expletive-laden rebuke that also mocked Manchester United’s reaction to losing the title despite their win at Sunderland.
• Djibril Cissé had already rebutted Rooney by saying he celebrated with longtime friend Samir Nasri and stressed QPR’s survival priority, and no new evidence or investigation has been reported.