Angryginge Calls Out Joey Barton Over Controversial Sidemen Charity Match Comments
YouTube personality Angryginge has publicly challenged Joey Barton after the former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder sparked significant backlash with his critical remarks about the Sidemen charity match.
The charity event was an overwhelming success, raising an impressive £4,733,004 for various charitable organizations including BBC Children in Need, Bright Side, and the educational charity M7 Education. More than eight million viewers from around the world tuned in to watch the livestream featuring popular internet personalities like IShowSpeed, KSI, Logan Paul, Mr Beast, and Kai Cenat.
The match between Sidemen FC and the YouTube All-Stars ended in a thrilling 9-9 draw at full-time, followed by a dramatic penalty shootout. After Sidemen member Miniminter missed his penalty, the YouTube All-Stars secured victory against the odds.
The event generated several viral moments, including IShowSpeed’s first-half penalty which garnered over 17.2 million views and thousands of comments on social media.
Barton’s Controversial Criticism
While the match received overwhelming positive reception, Joey Barton took to social media with harsh criticism, writing: “How is Wembley rented out a week before a League Cup Final for the R***** Bowl? F****** embarrassing. Those clowns shouldn’t be anywhere near the hallowed turf.”
Barton continued his critique by claiming: “Game has gone. R*****’s Everywhere you look. Some of the very worse football I’ve ever seen.”
His comments quickly drew responses from fans and the X platform’s Community Notes feature, which pointed out: “The Sidemen Charity Match, being referred to here, raised almost £5 million for charity, holds the record for largest audience for an online streamed sporting event, and had a capacity 90,000 crowd.”
When a fan reminded Barton about the charitable nature of the event, the former midfielder doubled down, arguing: “Not the point mate. We have the first major of the season next Sunday. Would the Masters let the goons loose on the golf course and week before the tournament?”
He added that the event was “an insult to Wembley” and to Liverpool and Newcastle football clubs and supporters, insisting that “Wembley should remain special. Not a circus.”
Angryginge, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, responded during his Twitch livestream with a pointed observation: “He was calling us every name under the sun. At the end of the day, Joey Barton is f***** slagging us all off but when I went to Misfits, his son asked me for a photo.”
The Manchester-born YouTuber added, “I don’t think he actually understands social media.”
The controversy highlights the growing intersection between traditional sports and internet culture, with the charity match demonstrating:
- The significant fundraising power of content creators
- The massive audience reach of digital personalities
- The ability to fill iconic venues like Wembley Stadium
Despite Barton’s criticisms, the event’s charitable impact and entertainment value were undeniable, with millions raised for worthy causes while providing entertainment to a global audience.
What do you think about this clash between traditional sports figures and digital content creators? Share your thoughts in the comments section and join the conversation about the evolving landscape of sports entertainment!