No FA action on Barton

The Football Association will not pursue any investigation against Joey Barton after Aston Villa confirmed they had no complaint to make in relation to an incident involving forward Gabriel Agbonlahor and the Newcastle midfielder.

It had been alleged Barton made a racist comment towards Agbonlahor when the sides met at St James' Park on Monday night, but the England Under-21 striker had already decided he did not want to take the matter further and now his club say they have no complaint to lodge either.

As a consequence, the FA now consider the matter closed.

"The FA wrote to Aston Villa to ask for any information the club could provide regarding allegations reported in today's media of remarks made by Joey Barton to Gabriel Agbonlahor during Villa's match against Newcastle on Monday," said a statement from the FA.

"The club has responded to inform us that they have no complaints to make. On this basis, the FA will not be pursuing this matter."

Villa manager Martin O'Neill had earlier been asked about the incident during his pre-match press conference ahead of the UEFA Cup game against Slavia Prague tomorrow.

"Gaby doesn't want to talk about it and he doesn't want to press charges," O'Neill said.

"I've just heard, regardless of what Gaby does or doesn't say, the FA would like to hear what sort of comments we have to make on an official basis."