March 12 – Newcastle United’s Alan Pardew has been handed a seven-game ban, a Premier League record for a manager, for the headbutt inflicted on Hull City midfielder David Meyler that was flashed around the world on television.
An independent Football Association commission ruled the first three matches imposed will be a stadium ban – a first for a top-flight boss in English football – with the remaining four a touchline ban. Pardew, 52, was also fined £60,000 and warned as to his future conduct.
Pardew, who is no stranger to controversy, clashed with the Republic of Ireland midfielder in the second half of the league fixture between the sides March 1. He immediately apologised but was fined £100,000 by his club.
Not since the legendary Brian Clough was banned from the touchline – from February 1989 until the end of that season for striking fans who invaded the pitch – has a boss at a league club been given such a stiff punishment.
Pardew said he will not appeal against the sanction which kicks in this weekend when Newcastle visit Fulham. “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,” he said in a statement on Newcastle’s website.
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