Joey Barton's lawyers brand libel claim by Eni Aluko against former footballer as 'unreasonable' after he likened her to 'Rose West' on X
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Joey Barton's lawyers have branded a libel claim against him by ex-England star Eni Aluko as 'unreasonable' after he likened her and another female footballer to serial killer Rose West. Barton was blasted over a tirade made on X, in which he dubbed Aluko, 37, and fellow football pundit Lucy Ward 'the Fred and Rose West of football commentary' after their coverage of an FA Cup game.
![[Barton likened Aluko, 37, and fellow female football pundit Lucy Ward to serial killer Rose West]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/14/86623851-14210381-Joey_Barton_pictured_is_being_sued_by_football_pundit_Eni_Aluko_-a-2_1734619988888.jpg)
The disgraced ex-Bristol Rovers manager's sexist attack on the female stars was widely condemned at the time - including by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who labelled it 'completely ridiculous'. Ex-Chelsea and England player Aluko is now suing Barton over the comment and another about her late Nigerian senator father, claiming both posts are defamatory.
![[Aluko (left) and Ward (right) were both victims to Barton's social media attacks after he compared the pundits to serial killers Fred and Rose West]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/14/79647479-14210381-Barton_savaged_Eni_Aluko_while_she_was_working_on_Everton_s_game-a-3_1734620082034.jpg)
The first hearing into the libel case was held today at London's High Court, with Aluko appearing to watch proceedings. At the hearing, a judge was asked to consider the 'natural and ordinary meaning' of the posts and whether they were innuendos made about Aluko being dishonest and hypocritical.
![[Aluko said at the time the posts against her had made her 'genuinely scared'. She is pictured outside Royal Courts of Justice in London]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/14/93317337-14210381-image-a-7_1734620110534.jpg)
Barton denies making defamatory remarks. Gervase de Wilde, representing Aluko - who attended the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London - said readers would take the meaning of the posts as that the broadcaster is 'laughable and unreasonable'.
Pundit Eni Aluko is suing Joey Barton over comments he made about her and her family online which she says are 'defamatory'. She is pictured at the Royal Courts of Justice today. Barton likened Aluko, 37, and fellow female football pundit Lucy Ward to serial killer Rose West.
