Joey Barton: 'Footballers would have been executed'

Joey Barton has claimed that "public executions" would be held if the England football team ever acted in similar way to their rugby union counterparts at the World Cup.

Numerous members of Martin Johnson's squad were fined or warned about their future conduct during their spell in New Zealand.

Queens Park Rangers captain Barton believes that the whole country's reaction would have been much harsher had it been footballers committing those acts.

"If that was an England football team at a World Cup, there would probably have been public executions when they got home," he told a Professional Players Federation national conference.

"The minute a footballer steps out of line, I think the media in this country, because of the sums of money they earn and also because of the stigma attached, are really quick to jump on it."

Barton has made one appearance for England during his career.