Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has publicly confessed his punch on Blackburn Rovers rival Morten Gamst Pedersen this week.
Barton knew there was no justification for what he had done, even if he felt that Pedersen had tried to provoke him with a needless shoulder barge during Wednesday night's encounter between Newcastle and Blackburn.
"As soon as it happened I was thinking, 'Oh for f**k's sake. I can't believe I've done that," the 28-year-old told the Daily Mail.
Like any player, he hoped that he might get away with it.
"When I realised the referee hadn't seen it, I tried to convince him I'd just shoved Pedersen," he said. "Anyone would because you know you could be in trouble, and for the sake of your team you don't want to get sent off.
"But at the training ground this morning I watched it with all the lads on television. I just turned to them and said, 'That's me out for three games'. I was obviously sorry."
