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Barton claims that fan struck him
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSBANGKOK, Thailand -- Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton, sent home from the team's tour to Thailand, has insisted that he was not involved in a fight with team mate Richard Dunne. The 22-year-old, who said he had been provoked by a group of Everton supporters in a Bangkok hotel bar, was told to return to England after it was alleged he had bitten Dunne's finger when the defender tried to act as peacemaker. "I was struck by a supporter, which I reacted badly to," Barton told the Manchester Evening News, "bit I stress that I didn't throw a punch." Barton added: "I apologize to everyone I have offended, especially to my team mates, my manager, the staff and all the supporters of my football club. "I have let everyone down. I regret the incident but it was not the mass brawl that some people have made it out to be." He said he would be first into training on Monday morning and was anxious to prove that he was "not some sort of head case." City beat Everton 4-2 in a penalty shootout for third place in the Asian Trophy tournament in Bangkok, while Bolton Wanderers won the competition by beating Thailand 1-0. Senegal international forward El-Hadji Diouf scored Bolton's winner from the penalty spot in the 76th minute after the ball had struck the hand of defender Kiatprawut Saiweo. 
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