Jeremy Vine slammed for questioning if Joey Barton has a disability after his ITV outburst

Jeremy Vine has been slammed for questioning if Joey Barton has a brain injury after the latter hit out at female commentators Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, followed by ITV, after they condemned his “vindictive remarks”. Joey said the pair were the “Fred and Rose West of football commentary” as they gave their opinion during Crystal Palace vs Everton’s match on Thursday evening.

Sharing his thoughts on Joey’s opinions, Jeremy, 58, said: “What’s going on with @Joey7Barton? I just glanced at the Rose West thing, then the @GNev2 spat, then his attack on Phillip Schofield and the ITV reply… genuinely, is it possible we are dealing with a brain injury here?”

The presenter was swiftly inundated with replies, many of which slammed his choice of words. One wrote: “Or maybe, just maybe, he’s a terrible person and we don’t have to equate badness with a disability Jeremy.” In response, he said: “But a brain injury can cause changes to a person’s character, e.g. disinhibition, anti-social behaviour.”

Another echoed the complaint, writing: “I think this is a deeply irresponsible post, Jeremy. Have you even considered that he may just be a really unpleasant human being?” He replied: “But wouldn’t be then have been saying this for the last 30 years?”(sic)

Sophie Corcoran chimed in, adding: “As a female footballer, I agree with the principles of some of what he is saying. Not quite the way he says it but the principles of it are right. And that’s from someone who plays and loves women football.”

A fourth typed: “To mention brain injuries in this manner is totally unconscionable.”

Joey has also since responded to Jeremy’s comments, accusing the presenter of “gaslighting” him after he refused to come onto his Channel 5 show.

Alongside a screenshot of an email inviting him onto the panel, the ex footballer wrote: “Just because I keep knocking you back to come on your shite program.

“Grow your audience and I’ll come on and hand your a**e to you live on air.”

He has also since questioned how he Jeremy employed and branded him a “cheeky c**t”.

The Channel 5 host shared the tweet on his page and joked: “Remind me not to open X/Twitter on a Saturday. Never a good idea.”

ITV have condemned the Manchester City and QPR player’s comments about the pundits as “contemptible and shameful” adding: “Such vindictive remarks based on gender and to invoke the names of serial killers in doing so is clearly contemptible and shameful on his part. Football is for everyone.”

Not one to hold back, Barton replied with an expletive-laden post saying he would be “calling them all serial killers from now on” and branded the broadcaster as “woke”.

He added: “I tried to play nice, you didn’t listen.”

Joey took a further swipe at ITV, as he questioned: “Is this the same @ITV @itvfootball that tried to cover up Phillip Schofield… Asking for a friend.”

The sportsman was referring to the investigation into Phillip’s “unwise by not illegal” affair with a young runner on the show which he admitted to previously lying about.

An ITV spokesperson said: “The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust.

“Phillip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down.”

They added they “did not find any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour” when investigated.