Joey Barton received some good news this week when his suspension from football was reduced by almost five months.The former Burnley midfielder was banned by the FA for placing 1,260 bets on football matches between March 26, 2006 and May 13, 2016.Barton’s ban was supposed to expire on October 25, 2018, but that date has been pushed forward to June 1 of next year.The 34-year-old was released by Burnley after his punishment was handed out and will have to spend the upcoming season working on his own, providing he plans on returning for the 2018-19 season.But, despite the ban, he expected to be allowed to play in the Game for Grenfell match on September 2.The game, which will be staged at QPR’s Loftus Road stadium, is being played to raise money for those affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Barton has tweeted the email he received

Barton asked if he would be allowed to play but received an email from one of the game’s organisers informing him that his FA ban prohibits him from doing so.

“@FA have decided my ban extends to helping a great cause,” Barton wrote on Twitter. “So unfortunately, unless someone engages their brain, I won’t make it.”

Check out the email Barton received below.

It reads: “Thank you so much for your generous offer to play in the GAME4GRENFELL.

"Unfortunately, the game is to be an FA sanctioned game, and to that end they have informed me that you will not be allowed to play in it due to your current ban.

"I just wanted to say that I am personally very sad about this and I am also incredibly grateful to you for the generous offer of your time - particularly on your birthday.

"I am truly sorry this hasn't worked out as I was really looking forward to having you there. It would also be great if we could keep this confidential as the match hasn't launched yet."

You can understand Barton’s frustration in all this. No doubt he has nothing else on his mind other than helping to raise money but has found his path blocked by a ban that he called “excessive” when he launched his appeal.

Should Joey Barton have been allowed to play in the Game for Grenfell match? Let us know in the comments section below!