posted on Dec, 22 2004 @ 01:06 PM
Manchester City's Joey Barton has been punished by the club after an incident at the Christmas party on Sunday.
Barton, 22, poked a burning cigar in youth team player James Tandy's left eye after a fracas at the Lucid nightclub in central Manchester.
Barton is said to have been provoked by Tandy trying to set his shirt on fire.
City carried out an internal investigation, finding the two players guilty of gross misconduct and both Barton and Tandy now face big fines.
In Barton's case that is thought to mean the loss of six weeks' wages, or around 100,000, though this has not been confirmed.
Police are not investigating the incident, but Tandy did receive hospital treatment for burns on his eyelid.
The pair will now face a disciplinary hearing in the next couple of days with manager Kevin Keegan and two of the club's directors.
City are keen to stress that both players were equally responsible for the incident, but it is Barton's future at the club which is once again likely
to be called into question.
BBC Sport