Owen Jones meets Joey Barton: 'Homophobia in football shows the problems the UK faces'

I met Joey Barton at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, where he told me that the lack of openly gay footballers shows that the UK is not as progressive as it thinks. He believes that eventually homophobic abuse in the sport will come to be seen as unacceptable in the same manner as racism on the terraces.
We also chatted about his opinions on politics, his history of violence, his interest in philosophy and why the penal system in the UK needs reforming.
Subscribe to The Guardian on KZbin ► is.gd/subscribeguardian
Support the Guardian ► support.theguardian.com/contr...
Today in Focus podcast ► www.theguardian.com/news/seri...
Sign up for the Guardian documentaries newsletter ► www.theguardian.com/info/2016...
The Guardian ► www.theguardian.com
The Guardian KZbin network:
Guardian News ► / guardianwires
Guardian Football ► / guardianfootball
Guardian Sport ► / guardiansportvideo
Guardian Live ► / guardianmembership
Guardian Culture ► / guardianculturearts

[@knifespoon7592]

Please make a video about homophobia in the Muslim community:) Ty!

[@splinterbyrd]

To my knowledge, no homophobic murder in this country has ever been carried out by a muslim.

[@IrugaZERO]

Does Owen have a bobble head? Discuss.

[@JackSmith-hp5kh]

Yes

[@mizofan]

He has a good mind. And that is rare in political circles, in society generally.

[@ellisholden2546]

Needs a head like a dog then we can call him Churchill

[@jackkthemighty324]

To be fair I never really gave Joey Barton much of a chance, shame on me!

[@joeydamonte6693]

Jackk The mighty He's hilarious 😂 he should run for prime minister

[@robinandned3151]

Jackk The mighty it's funny you've been duped

[@jackkthemighty324]

John Hurst How so? :)

[@robinandned3151]

Jackk The mighty he is a thug, an actor.

[@jackkthemighty324]

John Hurst I'm not sure I agree with you. However, we are all entitled to our opinions!

[@yaxl]

Owen, please do an interview with Larry Sanders the Green candidate for Witney by-election

[@Jc22222]

This would be great and then tell him to stand for Labour instead

[@mattcoxonline]

+1

[@OwenJonesTalks]

Good shout.

[@LeWiS2K9SMUDGEMOONED]

Owen, please could you interview Akala I think he's one of if not the best musician that deals with a vast array of issues and he is incredibly articulate.

[@ChickenWire]

Owen I was the guy in blue you had to stop filming for sorry if I disturbed you but I'm a huge fan and I was going to say hello but I was working on the festival and scared to

[@Bigjohn277]

Never thought I would agree with Joey Barton when Owen asked about class and Joey said "I am human". Slightly disappointed that Owen didn't talk about footballers pay and the efforts most go to shield themselves from tax.

[@benjaminblake164]

This man should never be ridiculed for turning his life around.

[@stuntjohn1556]

Great interview with Joey Barton. Was surprised at how genuine he came across. I look forward to watching more videos. I loved your book on The Establishment, was a great insight into British politics, I urge anyone who hasn't already, to add this to their book list. 😊

[@yorkshireplumbing]

He's a guy who would never be institutionally accepted as an intellectual or academic, but he does his best to express the depth of his awareness. He represents everyone who didn't have a privileged schooling or upbringing, but you can always better yourself if you try; just lay off the soap operas and football - which in itself, is the longest running soap opera in history.

[@simpleexplodingmaybe]

Barton is a smart guy but his background and the culture he's grown up in have forged a tough character. His temper, the macho front of a professional footballer, his tough upbringing, not to excuse his violence but there is a context for why he is who he is and the last few years he's been doing a lot of growing up in public. Discovering The Smiths and philosophy seems like a very sixth form thing to do only Barton is doing it in his 30s and it seems like almost all he gets for trying to better himself and become more interested in the wider world is classist snobbery. Yeah he still makes a lot of mistakes and he has done some very bad things in the past but he has also transformed himself into a far more mature character.

[@ynotnilknarf39]

Oi, this is youtube, logical and sensible comments aren't the done thing y'know! I'm not a follower of football, the odd minutes of MOTD, looking out for my home town teams results (Hull City for my sins) but JB always seems to come across as a guy to say things how they are. I get the impression he would find it hard to not say what he thought/thinks, rightly or wrongly as opposed to what people want to hear him say. He's certainly no angel but then as you say background/upbringing impinges a lot on your psyche and for a long time. Trying to stop yourself from doing the wrong things and making yourself a better human being is all you can ask of someone.

[@HAZMOLZ]

If he had stayed at the same club for the last 5 years without getting in trouble once, I would agree with you. However, facts and current circumstances indicate he hasn't changed at all, thus suggesting he's still a twat and not grown up at all.

[@igorsmail5417]

Robin, correct

[@SuperGooner75]

Good interview Owen, what I would say though a more in depth one to one would be better, this was a little too short.

[@robertsnelling]

Great interview Owen! Joey Barton comes across as a decent, thoughtful and interesting man. I know nothing about him, but I was impressed by his humanity and his depth of thought. He responded to questions intelligently and with balanced replies.

[@TheIkaraCult]

can't understand how you might draw that conclusion, Barton is a horrible piece of work

[@edwardcaplen8374]

I actually like Joey Barton, he's a flawed guy but he's not afraid to show that. He's genuine, which is why so many people hate him.

[@jojoman24]

And the Guinness World Record for Most Head-Nods In Ten Minutes When Someone Else Is Speaking goes to Owen Jones for about 7 million.

[@IveJustHadAPiss]

Why the reggae every time, Owen? How about some Dr S Gachet, instead?

[@AdamSich]

Owen doesn't pick the music. I just think it's an alright tune for library music. Dan, do one.

[@tommytom250]

PLEASE DO A DEBATE WITH DOUGLAS MURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@craigpearson7578]

@@rufusstewart762 I'm assuming you mean Owen?

[@AG-ub7sg]

He's great 👍🏼 how could I miss this video ? Just discovered it 💎

[@thechosenone89]

My opinion of Joey Barton hasn't changed. Like you said at the top of the video, you can't accuse him of being dull. There is not a footballer like Joey Barton, or indeed anyone in our society with his unique perspective. I'm not sure whether it's possible to forgive him for some of his misdeeds, or come around to liking him, but I will listen to him. I don't expect to agree with him, but I do value his input, because he comes from a background vastly different to my own, and lives a life vastly different to my own. If Game of Thrones has taught us anything, it's that characters are neither black nor white, everyone is a shade of grey. People shouldn't simply dismiss Joey because of the multiple mistakes in his life if he is saying something worth hearing now.

[@callumpledge3770]

Mark Simpson talking of game of thrones ;) Barton would be a Fray I have no doubt

[@MrKelz419]

If you need Game of thrones to teach you that. You are an idiot.

[@thechosenone89]

Lokiloko well most people are idiots then

[@kisbie]

Personally I think he is dull. He has never expressed an original thought in his life. There are hundreds of footballers with more insight than this poser.

[@Isleofskye]

Then they keep their insightfulness very well hidden..lol

[@joemacveigh9236]

Any more of the interview with Joey Barton?

[@ysgol3]

Brilliant interview Owen, you have the very rare gift of balancing strong contribution with respectful listening. You are VERY important in our democracy.

[@ysgol3]

@WhyOWhy Can't do words then ?

[@daisyrushton1574]

I had no opinion on him, I think I knew he had a book out, but I knew nothing about him. Since watching this video though, I feel like he's a solid advocate for working class issues, and a surprisingly intelligent and well-spoken man, who exposes classism wherever he goes.

[@TedThomasTT]

It's all an act. He's just a thug who enjoys the limelight.

[@100WangWing]

And he pities you

[@hannahgibb1555]

Ted Thomas how could it be a act

[@tris421]

I think he genuinely believes what he does and says and tries to be a decent person but when you've had his kind of upbringing and his general temperament it's pretty hard to lose that mentality. Without his fame and money he'd probably be a horrible cunt but at least he seems pretty self aware and thoughtful.

[@Isleofskye]

His articulacy and knowledge are an " Act "...is he reading from a hidden prompter ? lol

[@stephenhughes9005]

This perfectly shows how amazing Joey Barton is, and as always a fantastic video from you Owen, I

[@logitech2010100]

Isn't he on trial for beating his wife?

[@vincentrowleyvideophotogra3905]

Please please do an interview or debate with Milos Yiannopoulos.

[@thenekomancer3867]

Vincent Rowley Video & Photography You're asking the impossible

[@thenekomancer3867]

Guido Farage Milo has nothing to actually say. If your only point is being offensive, and literally nothing else, there's no point even bothering.

[@Jc22222]

Why give a platform to such a twat, stick to interviewing interesting people.

[@Jc22222]

Guido Farage Have you seen his vids about Saudi Arabia? I think all religion is bad for the world but when it comes to wahhabist Islam we've played a role in allowing it to grow due to the relationship us and the USA have had with the Saudis for a long time now. If you don't know about the history between the west and the Saudis and their wahhabist ambitions then this documentary will be very informative. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02gyz6b

[@justinrumsby1017]

Milo crapiopolis is, in truth, a non-entity made to be something note worthy to serve they elite agenda. He's a puppet to create a problem - trolling, so that solution can be found to stopping people like this god awful public school failure. Solution? I believe eh government and thinking about debate on a law to jail trolls. We all know what it really means is to put a stop to anyone disagreeing with future governments and their policies.

[@simonedgbaston]

Brilliant honest outsider& im not surprised he gets on with the modest entertaining genius of Morrissey 😊

[@gruffnuts2]

Never knew you interviewed JB... if you’ve not read bartons book, can only recommend it... really changed what I thought I knew about him.

[@lukecurry7273]

Owen, you should do an interview with Billy Bragg. Would be great to see his views on the modern world and maybe with a song at the end to finish things off!

[@mattbrown2263]

Owen, please interview Milo Yiannopoulous

[@aislingx21]

'I am human' - best response ever - also Owen you have wonderful eyes!

[@thebigb3ard]

you should try and get a one on one with Sam Harris. Has made me challenge several of my preconceptions in the past. good interview with Joey Barton btw. Think it's a good thing when someone speaks out on issues from different backgrounds, especially when they don't have to, Lily Allen being a recent example.

[@davidwackko693]

biggest preick in football

[@davidjones6956]

I had never heard of Joey Barton, but he seems a like a nice chap. If we all took the obvious view that we are all human beings, the world would be a better place.

[@mistacoz]

David Jones he's had a colourful past but he's certainly lived through lot of experiences and learned a lot.

[@ellengregory8002]

What does on "the terraces" mean? I've never heard that term before.

[@ANTHEMOS]

Owen what about an interview with Paul Heaton, one of our most under-rated songwriters whose politics are woven seamlessly through his lyrics...

[@Cornwall1888]

As a Celtic fan I was so excited when I heard he was going to Rangers, perhaps he is a Celtic double agent like some people consider trump a democrat double agent, both being used to destroy rangers and the republicans from within....

[@yermaw690]

Cornwall1888 perhaps you're just a fanny

[@Govanmauler]

Cornwall1888 lol yeah as a rangers fan I think you're right . dreaded him comin up here.

[@Cornwall1888]

Andrew Rose clearly a rangers fan 😂😂😂

[@djackson006]

Green and whyte were the double agents! ☹️

[@mizofan]

Excellent interview. My opinion of him has changed a great deal, for the better. I'm surprised.

[@logitech2010100]

How about now that he's on trial for beating his wife?

[@Peter-uk3sp]

Would have been nice to hear more on his politics, thoughts on Labour, Corbyn etc.but good interview!

[@GraveArchitect94]

Hey Owen where do you get your jumpers?

[@GreenmanXIV]

A shop?

[@thewotsit]

Same place as my grandad evidently.

[@Isleofskye]

Sweatshop in Bangla-Desh where they expliot Child labour....

[@vivalarevolution1384]

could you interview Akala ?

[@writerjames8284]

Allways enjoyed listening to Joe Barton he gives us a different perspective on things. he understands the working class mind set.

[@terryharrison8669]

try to get an interview with Jill Stein.

[@bluevozhak]

A video about homophobia in football, it's an important issue, Owen also needs to do a video about homophobia amongst Muslims and recent immigrants/refugees on balance I think.

[@coreyc1685]

Have you ever thought about interviewing David Graeber?

[@davidthom7127]

I hope it doesn't sound patronising to say, I was very impressed by Joey. An interesting and lovely guy.

[@RunningFlan]

8:10 This could have been a very long video had Owen reacted to that comment.

[@DrewFarmie2]

very surprising insight. You really need to interview Angela Rayner!

[@tobydonegan-cross8498]

I like the guy. He's open and transparent which is quite refreshing. He's a moderate progressive who has a really mature outlook on his less mature past

[@f0xylady100]

He's just a bloke. I used to think he's just a bell end. Now I think he's just a bloke.

[@logitech2010100]

He's both

[@MightyDemocracy]

So if someone had lots of chips at a poker table you wouldn't advise them to leave the table??

[@craigmacdougall6874]

Interview 2 MPs at once, one a Conservative, the other labour and see what their differences are as people and their beliefs when the drama of house of commons is removed

[@teresitasy9680]

Not into football but I admire this Guy

[@thisaccountisdead9060]

Why don't you interview Graig and Nasty Nick from the first Big Brother?

[@periurban]

Didn't know anything about him until now. He's not short of righteousness.

[@alastairmiller7838]

Hi Owen, where's the Noam Chomski video?? Please!!

[@HAZMOLZ]

Let's be honest Chomskis rhetoric hasn't changed for 30 years. It would be a waste of an interview. What would you actually learn that you don't know already about his worldview or likely worldview of a current political situation?

[@nigelkennedy3427]

Great interview but have heard no opinions UTV

[@sregan5415]

I *LOVED* that. "What would you call yourself?" "A human being"

[@tomgraham6071]

I find him quite attractive tbh.

[@stephencarter9570]

Looks a bit like Beckham

[@stan4723]

Should have played more for England -tenacious articulate and genuine.

[@rabmc]

I wish Joey would have done his French accent, wish you asked him about his current situation at Rangers, being that this isn't an old interview. I would love to see you interview Tommy Robinson 👍🏻

[@scootjockey]

He should go a round with Geoff Thomson.

[@sebastianlaws]

Why are we so surprised that a footballer is intellectual ? Is because we associate football with the working classes? And therefore assume working people are not as intricate as every other person on the planet? Joey Barton is a man Who is obviously thoughtful and intellectual yet because of his profession is told to shut up and be generic.

[@thisaccountisdead9060]

I have to pinch myself sometimes - sure things can be worse, but I went to a school that was in the bottom 0.3% of the league tables, but still managed to get 5 A's... while later my school became an academy and burnt down to the ground... I went to a college that had it's funding cut by 90%... and later that was knocked down the ground... the went to university on a 4 year engineering masters degree (modelled on europena degrees), but that was support by Rover which went bust and students could no longer afford to do 4 year degrees because of tution fees, so my degree was actually cancelled after my firsr year! I mean for fucks sake. I wouldn't have even gone to university if I could've gotten an apprentiship but companies were busy making people redundant instead.

[@calumcooke2040]

No matter which part of the video you skip to owen is nodding his head 😂

[@sgolten]

Anybody else think that in this video, Joey Barton looks like Sean Penn?

[@idontknowiknow4428]

he is the most articulate n intelligent footballer out there

[@ihartmovies2885]

Looks a bit like Sean Penn in dead man walking, in this video.

[@TheDensley7]

A car-thief who reads Epicurus is still a car-thief.

[@LeWiS2K9SMUDGEMOONED]

A Human who steals cars is still a Human. People are People regardless of their actions.

[@jagocorry6392]

So you denounce knowledge in the occasion of human condition

[@rishwardat]

An Epicurus reader who steals a car is still an Epicures reader. This one works too.

[@Isleofskye]

An Epicurus reader who doesn't steal cars is still not a thief...

[@thomas4982]

Can you do an interview (or at least try) with Nick Clegg? He's just brought out his book (so would accept every interview he gets) and would be fascinating to hear his views, especially about the forcing a commons vote on the EU and the result in the Witney by-election!!

[@misfit2022]

Joey Barton is surprisingly erudite for a professional footballer and one with such a violent background. I used to work with a chap who used to read out tweets and in amongst reading out Obama and Stephen Fry he would slip in a Joey Barton quote and not much different to be honest. I would leave the office and think he is putting his past behaviour behind him and then the next week he would be fighting on the training ground. He is an enigma. Statistically there are gay footballers so he is right on that one.

[@TheBlack106]

No mention of his recent breach of gambling rules with Rangers Owen? Shocking. Stop trying to make him some sort of man of the people / working class lad done good. Just leave him alone and stop giving him a platform.

[@AdamSich]

Pretty sure he's not allowed to talk about it on the record.

[@jamieso7]

Ed Black who gives two fucks if he was betting on some games that had nothing to do with his team. Ridiculous law anyway

[@PatchedThePipe]

Does Owen ever stopped noddin his head when Joeys talking?

[@SvenCallsSoRare]

The little weird noise from Barton @ 1:34 tho

[@chrisjames1924]

Just a creaking door

[@moe2366]

I was hoping you would ask him about his views on Palestine.

[@gazybhoy2008]

finally let out Scott Browns pocket

[@renjay3743]

Joey Barton is a football player. That's part of his life but it doesn't define him. He has concerns elsewhere. I find his views agreeable. He's much more than a passionate football player who can get caught up in the heat of the moment. He's a rational thinker and gives a shit. Good on him. is all I can say.

[@GarethWareth]

I like Joey Barton. He's got bad things about him, sure. But overall I respect him. Love his play style on the pitch, brutal yet can be so elegant. Love his political views, mostly. He's done and said some stupid things.

[@GregorMcHardy]

Why does Owen bobble his head so much? I'm trying to focus on what Joey is saying and all I can see is his head bobbling up and down at the left of my screen. Good interview nonetheless.

[@B1cam]

He seems like a top bloke 👍🏾

[@daverobertson623]

Yeah, has been on trialfor assault a bunch of times but yeah, apart from his frequent crimes a great bloke.

[@noisemann]

always considered Barton a loutish thug of a player but I don't think that now, interesting chap enjoyed the interview.

[@jakefilmfreak8200]

Wow he’s nothing like how I would have imagined seeing him play

[@RangersFansChannel]

Ah Joey. Always talking.

[@rogermoore4177]

seems like a thoroughly decent guy

[@daverobertson623]

Yeah, I mean he's been on trial for assault several times and is currently on trial for assaulting a manager whose team he lost to. Yeah, lovely guy.

[@chobson8602]

maybe there are no gays in soccer

[@illiteratethug3305]

remember him on Question Time? Managed 30 seconds before embarrassing himself.

[@agdgdgwngo]

I love Joey still reminds me of Frank Begbie, even more now he's taken up the philosophy

[@logitech2010100]

What do you love about him?

[@agdgdgwngo]

@@logitech2010100 I honestly don't know, just seems lovable. I quite like that most people seem to hate him

[@logitech2010100]

@@agdgdgwngo I guess since this video a few years ago has had more incidents esp with being on trial for beating up his wife

[@Tworonnies1]

Anything about the European Union?

[@ayushj14]

Didn't know he took such an interest in the world around him - awesome to see great interview

[@terminator57291]

I love joey Barton, top bloke

[@daverobertson623]

Yeah, currently on trial for assault for about the 10th time. Great bloke

[@huolalupin6008]

The title of this video exactly conveys how seriously Owen Jones should be taken.

[@luislizard2626]

The morrissey of football

[@JAMAICADOCK]

love Liverpool - even the hardmen are philosophers

[@stacywhitmarsh2864]

This one was a bit serious, I reckon Joey Barton didn't realise Owen is a comedy actor, not many laughs, Joey bossed the interview so Owen couldn't get his comedy lines in. I don't think Owen thought he was intelligent, complacency can be a bad thing. I'm still a fan though and have written to the BBC recommending they commission a comedy series for Owen.

[@FlowerBoyWorld]

the barton shot with owen at the edge is so distracting because owne nods his head so much ^^

[@thegrandmuftiofwakanda]

Joey Barton? Joey Deacon more like it !

[@vivebabeuf1917]

This video made me like Joey Barton a bit more

[@theo6991]

5-1

[@GarethWareth]

There are gay players. Joey might not know but other players have come out and said they know unnamed players who are gay. It's great to hear that they are there, but awful that they can't come out. I can't wait for the first player to make a stand. They will be hit with a lot of abuse but even more love. This is what we need to become aware. Nothing will change by just having Rainbow campaigns. They're great and all. But what will make stuff change is having players come out. I couldn't put myself in that situation, but I hope gay players do it soon. There have been openly gay players at lower levels or abroad. Obviously players have played in the Premier League and left and THEN have come out. Here's an example: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25628806

[@dafydd23]

so on and so forth

[@jameslindsay5889]

Never judge a book by its cover.

[@GlasgowMick50]

Guess Barton has a lot of free time since being banned from training at his current team

[@Kropotkin2000]

I'm more used to him with a French accent.

[@michaelwsperry]

Owen always only sees Britain through his prism. So polarising.

[@patwaine1174]

Quite an interesting interview . I do however feel that when joey talks about Hillsborough it is a bit mad to ignore how working class people were treated by the establishment. Does joey deny the existence of class in society. If he does I think he is definitely wrong.