Soccer-Rangers suspend midfielder Barton for three weeks

Sept 19 ( Reuters) - Rangers have suspended midfielder Joey Barton for three weeks following a training-ground dispute with team mate Andy Halliday, the Scottish club said on Monday.

The 34-year-old, who signed a two-year contract in May, was sent home after an altercation with Halliday on Tuesday, a few days after Rangers were thumped 5-1 by Celtic in the Old Firm derby.

"Joey Barton has today been suspended by the club and will not return to Ibrox or Auchenhowie for a period of three weeks," the club said on their website (www.rangers.co.uk).

Barton is no stranger to controversy having served bans for violent conduct on and off the pitch during his career. He broke a pedestrian's leg while driving his car in 2005 and was jailed for six months in 2008 after admitting assault and affray.

Barton has also played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queen's Park Rangers and Burnley. (Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)