WATCH: Joey Barton escapes red card after SLAPPING non-league player

Joey Barton is never far from controversy.

The Burnley midfielder, who rejoined the Clarets last month after a disastrous spell in Scotland with Rangers, was in the thick of it during his side's FA Cup defeat against minnows Lincoln City on Saturday.

The one time England player seemed ready to take on the entire Lincoln team in a mass brawl following a 70th minute incident.

With Lincoln sensing a opportunity to score, Alex Woodyard attempted to trick his way into the Burnley box, only to be bundled over by Barton.

The non-league side's Terry Hawkridge then marched up to the former Manchester City and QPR hardman, then seemingly goes down easily, although replays show Barton clearly extending his arm to his face.

Take a look:

It's getting heated at Turf Moor with @Joey7Barton at the centre of it all... #EmiratesFACup https://t.co/bDp6gX988D

— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) February 18, 2017

Yikes.

Should Barton have seen red for that incident?

The fine folks of Twitter certainly think so:

Joey Barton a disgrace once again.

Should have received a red card for the dive for unsporting behaviour + a red for the slap on the face

— Matt (@MC_Boyd) February 18, 2017

I hope the FA still ban Joey Barton three stamps and smack in the face still no red. Lincoln were awesome 👏 #Impvasion

— jimmy smith (@wbteawtct) February 18, 2017

So it's ok for Joey Barton to actually push the opposition players face ? Don't forget we are watching the TV Absolute disgrace red card !

— Julie Ridley (@blonde999_julie) February 18, 2017

Barton had quite the afternoon, after earlier trying to get Lincoln's Matt Rhead sent off with a pretty ridiculous moment of cheating:

Embarrassing from Joey Barton! 😦 pic.twitter.com/X1YKYZRRpi

— FootyAwayDays Videos (@FootyAwayDayVid) February 18, 2017

Luckily, justice prevailed as Lincoln went on to win the game 1-0 thanks to a dramatic last-minute header from Sean Raggett.

Rather brilliantly, they've become the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

And the non-league player's dreams came true in more ways than one...

I hope I get to play against Joey Barton one day #dream #kneehightackles

— Sean Raggett (@SeanRaggett) June 9, 2012