Joey Barton's 18-month suspension from all football activity has been reduced to 13 months following a successful appeal.
The 34-year-old was released by Burnley in May, one month on from being handed a long-term ban for breaching betting rules put in place by the Football Association.
Barton spent just three months with Burnley in his second spell with the club, before being charged with placing 1,260 bets on various football matches between 2006 and 2013.
The initial suspension was due to expire in October 2018, but the Football Association has confirmed that Barton's ban will be cut to 13 months, making him eligible to make a return in June 2018.
"The Appeal Board has upheld an appeal by Joey Barton against the Independent Regulatory Commission's decision to suspend him for 18-months and fine him £30,000 after he broke FA betting rules," read a statement from the FA.
"Barton admitted to placing 1,260 football-related bets between 26 March 2006 and 13 May 2016 and was sanctioned following an FA hearing in April this year.
"Following an Appeal Board hearing last week, where he challenged the suspension from football and all football activity, the sporting sanction has been reduced and will now expire on 1 June 2018, instead of the original decision expiry of 25 October 2018. The fine of £30,000 remains the same."
Barton scored once in 18 appearances for Burnley last season.
Matt Law
