Joey Barton Sparks Outrage With Tweet After England Women Win Euro 2025 Final

 Joey Barton has taken another bitter swipe at women’s football after Sarina Wiegman’s England Lionesses retained their status as the champions of Europe with a penalty shootout win against Spain. England’s Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick – and the resultant celebrations were triumphant.

Mariona Caldentey of Spain scored within 25 mintues, leaving Wiegman’s side a mountain to climb. Alessia Russo responded in the second half, latching onto Kelly’s pinpoint cross and guiding her header past a hapless Catalina Coll

Dutchwoman Wiegman, 55, became the first coach – men’s and women’s – in the history of football to win three international tournaments on the bounce. Irrespective of the Lionesses’ roaring success, ex-Queens Park Rangers midfielder Barton has sparked fresh outrage with his comments.

Barton Slams Women’s Football After England’s Euro 2025 Win

'Those penalties were borderline embarrassing again'

Alex Greenwood and Niamh Charles slotted their respective penalties home; while skipper Leah Williamson and forward Beth Mead, who was forced to re-take her effort for double-touching the ball first time round, missed their own attempts.

Hannah Hampton, who used a never-seen-before tactic to give her an advantage, saved half of her penalties faced and Kelly, 27, was the match-winner with a powerful strike from 12 yards out. England, elated, stormed the pitch in celebration.

Barton, who called it a day and hung up his boots in the summer of 2017, was not impressed, however. No stranger to upsetting the applecart, he relished his role of provocateur-in-chief after England's victory and, taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:

“Well done to the Lionesses winning the Nonsense Pottery Trophy. Those penalties were borderline embarrassing again. Don’t ever ask for equal pay again. Youse are miles off it.”

The ex-midfielder's opinion has sparked outrage among the Lioness/England fanbase. "How many trophies have you won?" a first fan wrote in response, while another kept it simple: "Have a day off." "Achieved more in football than you have in your entire career," a third supporter claimed.

"Why are you constantly having a go at women footballers?"

“They’ve literally won the Euros more than you’ve played games for England,” a fourth supporter replied as another wrote, “Imagine being this triggered, bitter and twisted because women achieved something you could only dream of.”

Huyton-born Barton, 42, also responded with “Do one!” to Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who was echoing a message of support to Wiegman’s side ahead of their showpiece at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland.

“The Lionesses have changed the game – breaking barriers, making history and inspiring the next generation. Tonight, the whole nation will be behind them. Come on England!” Starmer – who has been a beacon of support for England – wrote on X.

It wasn’t the only time during England’s tournament that Barton, who played just once for the national team during his career, has been critical of their progress. Following England’s penalty shootout win over Sweden in the quarterfinals, he said:

“Is this knockout game this monstrosity?” The former Newcastle United midfielder wrote. Broadcaster Jeff Stelling’s swift response got a lot of support from fellow watchers of England football. “Bet you haven’t turned off though, Joey?”

As alluded to, Barton made just one appearance for England – an 11-minute cameo in a friendly match with Spain back in February 2007 – but still feels the need to regularly criticise the growing prospects and stratospheric rise of women’s football.