The UK Attorney General’s office has confirmed that QPR midfielder Joey Barton will not face any legal action over his controversial Twitter comments concerning the ongoing John Terry racism case.
Terry has denied racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during a match at Loftus Road last October and the matter will go to trial this coming July. However, Barton took to Twitter on Friday to make a series of strongly worded comments after hearing that Terry had been stripped of the England captaincy by the FA.
Many felt that his comments had come dangerously close to being in contempt of court, an offence that has yet to be applied to comments made on the social network, but Barton defended them on the grounds of free speech. Making a statement on the issue, the Attorney General's office have confirmed that the QPR midfielder is in the clear, but has warned of the dangers of committing contempt in the Terry case between now and when the case goes to trial.
"Between February 3-5, Twitter exchanges on Joey Barton's page which related to the forthcoming trial of John Terry were brought to the attention of the Attorney General's office. They have been considered in relation to any possible contempt of court they could create. In this instance the Attorney has decided no action is necessary.
"Although in this instance no action will be taken, we would like to remind those who publish material that proceedings for the John Terry trial are active. Any discussion of a live court case has the potential to interfere with its proper course," the statement said.