Controversial QPR midfielder Joey Barton has accepted a charge of violent conduct but denied another one arising out of last Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City. The 29-year-old – who is also the subject of an internal investigation by his club over his behaviour in the match – accepted the charge over his kicking of Sergio Aguero after he had been already red carded for elbowing Carlos Tevez, an FA statement said. However, the hot-tempered Englishman, who has been involved in several unsavoury incidents throughout his career, denies trying to headbutt City captain Vincent Kompany. Barton’s dismissal could have been extremely costly to QPR as they went into the game battling to avoid relegation and ended up losing the game 3-2 only to be saved from the drop when Stoke held Bolton to send the latter side down instead. He will receive an automatic four-match ban for what was his second dismissal of the season, and could receive three-match suspensions for each of the violent conduct charges. Furthermore, the FA’s regulatory panel can employ discretionary powers to increase the length of the suspension if charges are found to be proven. Barton may also have created more trouble for himself because, as an inveterate user of Twitter, he went on to claim his violent actions were a cynical ploy to provoke a City player to be sent off. Barton – who has three years remaining on his contract – later apologised for his behaviour, but QPR announced earlier on Wednesday they had launched their own inquiry.