Players 'detached from reality', fumes Joey BartonNewcastle midfielder Joey Barton claims the decadent lifestyles of many players puts them out of touch with reality.
Barton's own discipline problems have seen him jailed but he told Radio 4's Today programme that gave him a sense of perspective other players lack.
"A lot of them are so detached from reality it's untrue and there was a stage when I was like that," he said.
"It's only the fact I'm grounded by the trouble I've been in that's forced me away from being in the football world."
Barton also said the huge amounts of money players were paid added to their sense of isolation from the world that normal fans live in.
Barton's own discipline problems have seen him jailed but he told Radio 4's Today programme that gave him a sense of perspective other players lack.
"A lot of them are so detached from reality it's untrue and there was a stage when I was like that," he said.
"It's only the fact I'm grounded by the trouble I've been in that's forced me away from being in the football world."
Barton also said the huge amounts of money players were paid added to their sense of isolation from the world that normal fans live in.