Joey Barton has been handed a 12-game ban by the FA, following his training ground assault on Ousmane Dabo, his former Manchester City team-mate, in May 2007.

The Newcastle United midfielder, who had already admitted the charge of violent conduct and requested a personal hearing, must serve a minimum six match ban, with the other six matches suspended until the end of the 2009-2010 season.

The remainder of the ban would be automatically invoked should Barton be found guilty of any similar charge involving violence or be dismissed from the field of play for violent conduct. He has also been fined £25,000.

In July, the 26-year-old was handed a four-month suspended sentence for the assault on Dabo, who now plays for Lazio, and also spent 74 days in jail after being sentenced to six months' imprisonment for assault and affray for attacking a teenager in Liverpool city centre. However, following his release the club announced that they would be standing by him.

Kevin Keegan, who resigned as Newcastle manager yesterday, had been due to appear in London as a character witness but instead chose to fax through his evidence following his acrimonious departure from St James' Park.

A statement by Maurice Armstrong, the chairman of the independent Regulatory Commission chairman, said: "The Regulatory Commission had the benefit of taking all appropriate information into consideration. The Commission members considered principally the serious attack by Mr Barton that clearly cannot be accepted.

"The members also had to take into consideration the sanctions imposed by the courts and the pro-active support Mr Barton has received from Newcastle United FC and other professional bodies.

"The Commission members wanted to punish the offence appropriately but give Mr Barton an opportunity to ensure his professional conduct does not falter again and ensure he is fully aware of the consequences should he make another serious error of judgement."