Barton fires red card legal threat

QPR captain Joey Barton claimed on Tuesday he could sue over the red card he received against Norwich.

QPR have confirmed they will appeal to the Football Association against Barton's dismissal in Monday's 2-1 home defeat.

And the 29-year-old former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder wrote on Twitter on Tuesday: "I wonder how long it is before a football club sues a referee for making a bad decision? There's too much at stake to not have technology."

He added: "Or a player sues another player for play acting. Which is basically a lie and that is actionable. What's the difference?

"Someone has to set the precedent to stop the game from being ruined, maybe I'll be the 1st one. Can players sue referees?"

Barton gave QPR an early lead at Loftus Road, before then getting involved in a tussle with Bradley Johnson, and appearing to headbutt the Norwich midfielder.

Play continued before referee Neil Swarbrick consulted his assistant nearest to the incident and produced a red card.

Barton had immediately used his Twitter account to launch an impassioned defence of what he viewed as a "ridiculous decision", claiming the match officials had been "conned".

It is also understood the FA are to seek observations from the London club over critical comments from director Ruben Emir Gnanalingam.

Norwich went on to win through goals from Anthony Pilkington and Steve Morison, to leave QPR just above the relegation zone.