Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been handed a seven-game ban by the English Football Association, after an ugly incident involving Hull City midfielder David Meyler last weekend.
Pardew, 52, was banned for landing a headbutt on Meyler during Newcastle’s 4-1 win over the Tigers last Saturday, as the manager was sent off during the game. The incident occurred when Meyler rushed towards the Newcastle bench to retrieve a ball in the 72nd minute, and brushed past Pardew. The Newcastle boss took exception to that and raced towards Meyler before aiming a headbutt towards Hull’s player.
(WATCH: Pardew sent off for headbutt on Hull’s Meyler, as Newcastle manager loses the plot)
That action had landed Pardew in hot water with the FA, who released the following statement after an Independent Regulatory Commission met on Tuesday to determine his punishment.
“Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew will serve a seven-match suspension with immediate effect, subject to any appeal, after he admitted an FA misconduct charge. An Independent Regulatory Commission today [Tuesday 11 March 2014] ruled the first three-matches imposed are a stadium ban with the remaining four a touchline ban. Pardew was also fined £60,000 ($90,000) and warned as to his future conduct.”
Pardew has the right to appeal his charge, with many expecting a ban of up to 10-games for the Magpies boss. However with only three of the matches being a complete stadium ban, and the other four meaning he can sit in the directors box and watch the games, some would say this is pretty lenient on the FA’s part. Given the fact that an outrageous incident like this has never been seen before in the history of the Premier League, it was hard for those handing out the ban to measure what to give Pardew.
Adding to the fact that Pardew has already been involved in a number of fractious incidents in the past, it would seem like he’s got away lightly following the incident.
That said Newcastle are now without their manager for seven of the final nine games of the season, and after being fined by the club following the incident, it remains to be seen whether or not Pardew will keep his job at St. James’ Park or be dismissed on grounds of gross misconduct.
We haven’t heard the last of this.
