Seven match ban for Alan Pardew
It was the 1st of March 2014 and Newcastle United
were beating Hull city 3-1 away from home which is regarded as one of their best
performances of the season. As the match entered the 71st minute the
ball went out of play and Hull City midfielder David Meyler want to retrieve
the ball (and pushed Pardew out the way to get it) and then got involved in an
altercation with Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew, this altercation led to
Pardew head butting the Hull City midfielder which led to the Hull City
midfielder and the Newcastle United manager coming to blows, Even though
Meyler’s team mate Ahmed Elmohamady tried to stop the two coming to blows. After
the incident referee Kevin Friend showed Meyler a yellow card for his reaction
to the initial head butt and referee had no choice but to send Newcastle
manager Pardew to the stands for the rest of the game. This incident didn’t
distract the Newcastle United players though as they went on to score again and
win the game 4-1.
After the match the media/football pundits were waiting
anxiously to see what would happen to Pardew as many believed he would lose his
job. These members of the media then gathered for Pardew’s post match comments
on the incident, Pardew regretted the incident and had the following to say on
the incident to Sky sports "It was just a heat of the moment thing. Obviously
I massively regret it”. He then further commented by saying “ I think I am
going to have to sit down from now on because that's about two or three
incidents I have been involved in on the line”. He then also said "I
didn't mean to do anything aggressive, but I did move my head forward and
that's enough”. He ended his comments by saying "It was just because of
the situation, if I was on the other side of the line, that wouldn't have
happened, perhaps it will teach me to sit down”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EhLp-cnvsA - Footage of the incident
His opposite number Steve Bruce had this to say about the
incident to Sky Sports "Also I have to say, we've seen people play-acting
and all the rest of it. I don't think he really smashed (his head) in there but
David Meyler, it's a good job it was him because we see people rolling around
the floor. David's reacted - OK, he's angry of course - but I think Alan knows
he's been stupid on the day and rightly apologised."
The football world was well and truly shocked by the actions
of Alan Pardew as this is something that you don’t see football managers ever
doing. Most of the comments from pundits offered Pardew in a very negative
light. Newcastle legend and Match of the day pundit Alan Shearer had this to
say on the incident "What on earth can Alan Pardew say to his players when
they misbehave? I have never seen anything like that before, ever. Frankly I wouldn't
be surprised, and I don't think anybody will be surprised at all, if Alan
Pardew were to resign over this. Even if he doesn't want to resign, the club
might be saying to him, "We might be doing you a favour - you resign
rather than us sack you", because that will have to be in his thinking
also. It will be very difficult for him to keep his job now."
Gary Lineker also commented on the incident by saying “Alan
Pardew has just head-butted David Meyler. Yes head-butted. Inexcusable from a
manager”. Joey Barton also had a comment on the incident by saying “Seen Pardew
incident. As per usual. Massively over-hyped. Don't let a couple of stupid
incidents detract from the job he has done at Newcastle. Especially with what goes
on behind the scenes there”. Barton view is not a view which is shared by most
other people who have seen or commented on the incident.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNCqGcS4VC8 - Match of the Day Reaction to incident
Newcastle later on in the day released a statement stating
how they were going to punish Pardew for his actions. The main points of the
statement are as follows "Newcastle United are disappointed with the
actions of its manager Alan Pardew this afternoon. His behaviour was
unacceptable and is not the behaviour we expect from the manager of Newcastle
United. Alan has accepted a formal warning from the club in relation to his
behaviour today and also a club fine of £100,000”.
Pardew was then charged by the FA with a misconduct and
after accepting the charge was told he would find out his fate Tuesday 11th
March. Pardew then found out he had been handed a 7 game ban – four of which
his is banned from entering the stadium for and three he isn’t allowed on the
touchline. He was also fined £60,000 pounds for the offence. He has also been
involved in two other controversial incidents including verbally abusing
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and also had to apologise to Arsene
Wenger for over celebrating a goal when he was West Ham manager.
