Ananova:

Joey Barton will be a footballing free man by the end of next month, providing he stays out of trouble, after the Football Association handed the Newcastle midfielder a six-match ban - with another six suspended - for his assault on Ousmane Dabo.

The attack, which happened in May last year at City's Carrington training ground, left the France midfielder in such a state that he felt he "looked like the Elephant Man".

Barton pleaded guilty to the FA's charge of violent conduct in August, but the 26-year-old had requested a personal hearing to plead leniency.

Former boss Kevin Keegan, who resigned from his position yesterday, was scheduled to attend the hearing as Barton's character witness but is thought to have submitted a character statement by fax instead.

In July, Barton was given a four-month suspended prison sentence for the assault and entered Tony Adams' Sporting Chance Clinic in an attempt to rid himself of his behavioural problems that have blighted his career.

As part of his punishment for the attack, Barton was also ordered to pay £3,000 compensation and carry out 200 hours of community service.

A four-man FA disciplinary panel decided this afternoon after a hearing at Soho Square that Barton should be banned for 12 matches, six of which will be suspended until the end of the 2009-2010 season.

A statement issued on the FA's website read: "Much has been written about Mr Barton over recent months.

"The regulatory commission had the benefit of taking all appropriate information into consideration. The commission members considered principally the serious attack by Mr Barton that clearly cannot be accepted.

"The members also had to take into consideration the sanctions imposed by the courts and the pro-active support Mr Barton has received from Newcastle United FC and other professional bodies.

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