By Chris Wright
As expected, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has been hit with a hefty ban and fine from the FA for his little “forehead shunt” on Hull City’s David Meyler a week or so ago.
Pardew will now have to sit out the next seven of Newcastle’s games and pay up to the tune of £60,000 – with a statement released by the FA this afternoon reading thus:
“[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 ruled the first three matches imposed are a stadium ban with the remaining four a touchline ban.”
Pardew has also emitted a statement via Newcastle’s official website, once again apologising before adding that he accepts the FA’s punishment:
“As I have made clear, I deeply regret the incident and again wholeheartedly apologise to all parties for my conduct, which I understand was not acceptable.
“I will accept the punishment handed down by the FA today. My focus now turns to preparing the team for this weekend’s game against Fulham and finishing the season as strongly as possible.”
That’s on top of the £100,000 fine already metered out by Newcastle themselves. These head-butts don’t come cheap, y’know!
The lengthy ban also means that the next Toon game that Pardew will be back in the dugout for is the club’s home clash with Cardiff on May 3rd.
What do we reckon, Pies fans? Punishment fit the crime?