Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton has been handed a 12-match ban for two counts of violent conduct in the final Premier League game of the season.
QPR's volatile captain Joey Barton has received a 12-match ban from the Football Association after being found guilty by an Independent Commission of two counts of violent conduct.
The 29-year-old - who has been in trouble on several occasions throughout his career both on and off the pitch - had eight matches added to the four-game suspension he had picked up already for being sent off in the final game of the season against champions Manchester City.
He was also fined STG75,000 ($A120,000).
The FA's regulatory panel had discretionary powers to further increase the length of the suspension if charges were found to be proven.
Barton's admission on Twitter that his violent actions were a cynical ploy to provoke a City player to be sent off saw those discretionary powers employed.
Barton insisted via Twitter on the day of his sending-off that he had not lost his head but that a teammate "suggested I should try to take 1 of theirs with me".
Barton was shown a red card for elbowing Carlos Tevez and then kicked Sergio Aguero before appearing to attempt to headbutt opposing captain Vincent Kompany.
"There are rules of conduct that should be adhered to, and such behaviour tarnishes the image of football in this country, particularly as this match was the pinnacle of the domestic season and watched by millions around the globe," said the Commission chairman Maurice Armstrong.
The FA released a statement saying that while Barton - who appeared personally with a barrister - had pleaded not guilty to the second charge the Commission had not found in his favour.
"Following Barton's dismissal in the 54th minute of the match, there followed two incidents involving Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany," read the statement.
"As Barton had already been dismissed, both of these incidents fell outside the jurisdiction of the referee.
"Barton accepted the charge of violent conduct against Aguero but denied the second breach of violent conduct against Kompany. The independent Regulatory Commission, however, found this second charge proved."
QPR said they will now begin their own internal investigation.
Club spokesman Ian Taylor said on Twitter: "QPR will be making no comment in regard to the Joey Barton case. Internal investigation will begin in due course."
