Thursday 27 April 2017 16:09, UK
Burnley boss Sean Dyche feels Joey Barton's 18-month ban for breaching FA betting rules is "harsh" - especially considering Eric Cantona's nine-month ban for his "Kung-Fu kick" on a supporter in 1995.
Clarets midfielder Barton accepted a misconduct charge in February but will be appealing the punishment set out by the Football Association this week.
Ahead of Burnley's crucial relegation clash against at Crystal Palace on Saturday, Dyche questioned the ban's length and challenged the FA to deal with issues he considers just as pressing.
"He's disappointed and we're disappointed for him. We equally feel it's a bit harsh," he said.
"I don't know how you balance all these things that have happened in football, but one of them when I was a young man was the legend Eric Cantona Kung-Fu-kicking someone. I think he got a nine-month ban.
"We know the rules - don't gamble on football when you're in football - simple as that. And Joey knows that. But the FA made it quite clear that there is no intent on anything other than his own personal gambling. His integrity is intact; nothing about trying to change games, or consorting.
"Eighteen months seems a long time to me, in lieu of some of the things I've seen in the game, but we have to respect their decision and we do. They're obviously showing strength in these individual decisions.
"I can only presume that they're going to move on to the constant cheating in the game now, which I've spoken about for a year or two; constant diving, constant feigning injury, constant falling to the floor. It's at a level it needs to be sorted out.
"If they're looking at these individual cases - rightly so - then I'm sure they're going to move on to the bigger picture and the greater good of the game along with the powers that be at the Premier League and Football League."
Barton joined Burnley in January after his contract at Rangers was terminated in November, and he had made 18 appearances in his second spell under Dyche.
The Clarets boss said: "We knew there was a chance we could lose him. As a business side, that was always taken care of with Joey, and he understood. But we couldn't get away from him being a worthwhile player to bring back, and he's proved that.
"The timing of it (the ban) is unfortunate but we move forward. It's an opportunity for someone else to come back into the team. We'll see what effect it has."
