Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has spoken of his exasperation at Joey Barton's latest misdemeanours.
Barton's future at QPR is in doubt after he elbowed Carlos Tevez, kicked Sergio Aguero and appeared to headbutt Vincent Kompany during Rangers' 3-2 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday.
The Rangers skipper, who could now be suspended for the first 10 matches of next season, has had more than his fair share of run-ins with the authorities during a colourful 11-year career.
Barton stubbed a lit cigar in the eye of young team-mate Jamie Tandy while at City in 2004, left Ousmane Dabo needing hospital treatment after a training ground fight in 2007 and was jailed for six months for assault the following year.
Taylor, who has offered Barton advice through the PFA before, fears for the 29-year-old's future in the game.
"I just feel sometimes like it is pushing a boulder up a hill, it slips back and you decide whether to go again," Taylor said.
"We try to deal with Joey Barton and it is not getting any easier.
"It has certainly been a backward step for him and his future in the game.
"There are people that seem to be improving and then slip back, it is a human condition. No one is perfect but you only have one career."
Barton was today granted an extension until midday on Wednesday to respond to the two FA charges levelled against him following Sunday's loss at the Etihad Stadium.
The former Newcastle midfielder launched an expletive-ridden attack on Alan Shearer via Twitter for his assessment of the red card on Match of the Day and then turned on Gary Lineker, who hosts the programme.
Taylor was disappointed to see Barton's comments on the micro-blogging site.
"At the moment of course it is a serious situation a lot of other people in the game have been upset, other respected professionals and I hate it when it gets like that," said Taylor, who was speaking at the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards in London.
"That is part of the problem with social media, people say players don't communicate then they do communicate and it causes problems - sometimes justifiably and others perhaps not."