Former Footballer Joey Barton is facing backlash for referring to the racist murder of an innocent 18-year-old as a 'scrap' during a podcast promotion.

Joey Barton, a former footballer, is facing criticism for minimizing the racist murder of Anthony Walker, an innocent 18-year-old, by his own brother and cousin. Michael Barton, who was 17 at the time, was sentenced to life in prison alongside his cousin Paul Taylor for the 2005 murder.

In a promotional clip for a podcast, Barton placed blame solely on Taylor for the killing, claiming that his cousin's actions had cost Michael "17 years of his life." Barton further described the incident as a "f*****g scrap" in which Taylor used an ice axe to fatally strike Walker.

The Anthony Walker Foundation, established by Walker's mother, Gee Walker, has denounced Barton's comments as "factually incorrect" and lacking sensitivity towards the seriousness of the racially motivated attack.

The Horrific Murder of Anthony Walker

On the night of the murder, Anthony Walker was babysitting his nephew with his girlfriend and cousin when they encountered Michael Barton at a bus stop. Barton threatened to stab both men before they decided to walk to another stop. Barton and Taylor followed them in a car and ambushed them near McGoldrick Park in Huyton. During the attack, Taylor struck Walker in the head with an ice axe, resulting in his death the following day.

At their trial, Michael Barton denied killing Anthony, but was found guilty of murder. Taylor admitted his involvement in the killing. The pair fled to Amsterdam, prompting Joey Barton to demand their return to face justice.

Joey Barton Criticized for Minimizing the Murder

Barton's recent comments have been accused of attempting to downplay the racist murder for the purpose of promoting his podcast. Critics argue that Barton's description of the murder as a 'scrap' fails to acknowledge the unprovoked, racially motivated nature of the attack. They also highlight the fact that Barton's brother did not 'lose' 17 years of his life, but rather took part in a pre-planned murder and fled to Amsterdam to evade capture.

Kaushik Mistry, CEO of The Anthony Walker Foundation, emphasized that it is Anthony's life that was tragically lost forever, not Michael Barton's. Despite the controversy surrounding his remarks, Joey Barton has yet to issue an apology.

Joey Barton's Football Career

Joey Barton played for various teams during his 15-year football career, including Manchester City, Newcastle, and QPR.