Yossi Benayoun has branded Joey Barton 'stupid' and 'embarrassing' in response to a tweet he made about the Middle East crisis. Benayoun, who played alongside Barton during a spell on loan at Queens Park Rangers last season, captained Maccabi Haifa in their friendly against Lille in Austria earlier this week which had to be abandoned when pro-Palestinian protesters invaded the pitch and fought with players. Israel is currently engaged in hostilities with Hamas, an Islamist militant group that runs the Gaza Strip. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Israeli football players fight with Palestinian pitch invaders Attack: Yossi Benayoun was involved in Maccabi Haifa's match which had to be abandoned after pro-Palestinian protesters invaded the pitch earlier this week
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Benayoun said former QPR team-mate Barton will 'stay stupid all your life'
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Barton condemned Israeli actions in Gaza with Twitter post on Friday
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The QPR midfielder responded to Benayoun with a number of replies
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Benayoun was involved in Maccabi Haifa's match against Lille, which was abandoned after pro-Palestinian protestors attacked players on the pitch
@placeholder replied: 'Firstly, you cannot call somebody stupid with such bad grammar.