Pardew left fearing for his job after Meyler headbutt as FA stadium ban could force Newcastle to sack him

  • Alan Pardew could receive a stadium ban from the FA for headbutting Hull's David Meyler
  • FA insiders say the ban could be as many as 10 games
  • Newcastle could sack Pardew if he is unable to manage the club in the coming weeks
  • The former West Ham boss was fined £100,000 after the incident
  • Pardew was sent to the stands at the KC Stadium and will face an FA charge

By Colin Young and Matt Lawton

PUBLISHED: 17:45 EST, 2 March 2014 | UPDATED: 08:26 EST, 3 March 2014

 

Alan Pardew could yet lose his job as Newcastle manager if the FA hit him with a lengthy stadium ban for headbutting Hull’s David Meyler.

Newcastle’s immediate response on Saturday night was to publicly condemn Pardew for his astonishing touchline attack at the KC Stadium and issue him with a formal warning and a £100,000 fine.

It was enough to convince those close to Pardew that his employers will take no further action - but the club’s position could change depending on the severity of the punishment.

VIDEO Scroll down to see Alan Pardew and Steve Bruce's comments after the headbutt

What was he thinking? Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew headbutts Hull City player David Meyler

What was he thinking? Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew headbutts Hull City player David Meyler

Clashing point: David Meyler had to restrained by fellow player Hull City player Ahmed Elmohamady

Clashing point: David Meyler had to restrained by fellow player Hull City player Ahmed Elmohamady

Anger: Meyler was seen pushing Pardew as the pair clashed when a stray ball went out of play

Anger: Meyler was seen pushing Pardew as the pair clashed when a stray ball went out of play

The Newcastle United statement in full

Newcastle United are disappointed with the actions of its manager Alan Pardew this afternoon (Saturday, 1st March).

His behaviour was unacceptable and is not the behaviour we expect from the manager of Newcastle United.

It is most disappointing that this incident has taken the focus away from what was a fantastic performance by the team and an excellent result away from home which leaves the club in eighth place in the Barclays Premier League.

Sadly, the headlines tomorrow will not be focused on the result or the efforts of the players, but instead on the actions of our manager.

Alan unreservedly apologised immediately following the game to the player, to Hull City Football Club and its fans, and to the fans of Newcastle United.

We have held discussions this evening with Alan who has offered his sincere apologies to the Club and it is clear he deeply regrets his actions. Alan has accepted a formal warning from the Club in relation to his behaviour today and also a Club fine of £100,000.

The Club is now drawing a line under this matter and will be making no further comment.

On Sunday night FA insiders were not ruling out a stadium ban that could run for at least six games, and possibly even as many as 10, which would keep him away from Newcastle games for the rest of the season.

Pardew would also receive another hefty fine. It was only recently that the club dismissed reserve-team coach Willie Donachie amid allegations that he struck a player, understood to be 19-year-old defender Remie Streete, and the pressure could mount on the club to be just as tough.

FA chairman Greg Dyke has already described it as a ‘serious’ issue while leading figures in the game have said Pardew’s position is ‘untenable’.

When the then Blackpool manager Paul Ince was punished for physically confronting the fourth official in the tunnel at Bournemouth earlier this season, he was hit with a five-game stadium ban.

A 10-game ban for Pardew would see him miss the rest of the season with matchday duties switching to assistants John Carver and Steve Stone, leaving Newcastle owner Mike Ashley looking at the long-term repercussions.

The controversial owner, who gave Pardew an eight-year deal last season, is understood to have acted swiftly on Saturday evening in an attempt to draw a line under the incident and end speculation that he intends to sack Pardew.

But Ashley holds a review of all aspects of the club at the end of every season and Pardew’s behaviour is certain to come under scrutiny despite him being almost certain to provide the top-half finish which was his target for this season.

Clash: Pardew reacted in unprecedented fashion to being barged by the Ireland international

Clash: Pardew reacted in unprecedented fashion to being barged by the Ireland international

Scuffle: The incident started after Meyler pushed Pardew out of the way with the ball rolling towards him

Scuffle: The incident started after Meyler pushed Pardew out of the way with the ball rolling towards him

Off you go: Pardew is sent to the stands by referee Kevin Friend

Off you go: Pardew is sent to the stands by referee Kevin Friend

From above: Pardew (centre) looks on from the stands as Newcastle secured a 4-1 win

From above: Pardew (centre) looks on from the stands as Newcastle secured a 4-1 win

Opinionated: Alan Shearer, who managed Newcastle in 2009, slammed Pardew for his headbutt

Opinionated: Alan Shearer, who managed Newcastle in 2009, slammed Pardew for his headbutt

 

More...

 

The Newcastle manager fined himself last month for a foul-mouthed attack on Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

At the start of last season he pushed a linesman in the back and was involved in an ugly row with ex-Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill during the Tyne-Wear derby.

The FA certainly see this as the most serious of Pardew’s cases, and once the governing body has received the referee’s report an independent disciplinary commission will be appointed to deal with what is an unprecedented situation.

The FA will then attempt to deal with Pardew as rapidly as possible and the fact that he has said he will accept whatever punishment they dish out should mean the case does not go to appeal.

On Sunday even Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the League Managers’ Association, could not defend Pardew.

Bevan was keen to stress that the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League was ‘extremely sorry’, but having spoken to Pardew, he said: ‘The buck stops with Alan. It’s unacceptable, it’s inappropriate and it’s insupportable from every perspective.

Not happy: Arsene Wenger took issue with Pardew's celebrations as West Ham beat Arsenal 1-0 in 2006

Not happy: Arsene Wenger took issue with Pardew's celebrations as West Ham beat Arsenal 1-0 in 2006

Heated: Martin O'Neill took exception to Pardew's over-zealous celebrations in the 2011 Tyne-Wear derby

Heated: Martin O'Neill took exception to Pardew's over-zealous celebrations in the 2011 Tyne-Wear derby

JOE ROYLE ON PARDEW

Frankly, I was shocked and disgusted by Pardew’s incredibly irresponsible action. And yet, and even more disturbingly, I wasn’t completely surprised. Pardew has a lot of previous, a lengthy list of touchline bust-ups and misbehaviour. 

When manager of Ipswich Town, I had personal experience of Pardew’s touchline impropriety during a play-off semi-final with his then club West Ham. I was alarmed, to say the least, by the way he tried to influence the officials.

'Alan knows that. He immediately realised the serious error, made sincere apologies to all parties. But Alan does need to think about how not to put himself in that position again.’

Pardew has said he would have to ‘sit down and stay out of the way’ rather than roam his technical area. Bevan nevertheless believes certain issues need to be addressed.

Bevan told Sportsmail: ‘We did a technical report last year. Now we are working on a second report. I don’t mention this now because of Alan but because it is an important project.

'There can be too much traffic in the technical areas and sometimes problems arise because of that.'

Hot water: Pardew called Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini a 'f****** old c***' in January

Hot water: Pardew called Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini a 'f****** old c***' in January

Best of pals: Barton, who has often found himself in trouble for acting out, came out in Pardew's defence

Best of pals: Barton, who has often found himself in trouble for acting out, came out in Pardew's defence

Spitting feathers: Pardew was banned for two matches after pushing a linesman against Tottenham in 2012

Spitting feathers: Pardew was banned for two matches after pushing a linesman against Tottenham in 2012

Room with a view: The Newcastle boss was banished to the St James' Park stands after the push

Room with a view: The Newcastle boss was banished to the St James' Park stands after the push

PARDEW'S CHEQUERED PAST ON THE TOUCHLINE

November 2006: Pardew had earlier in the year criticised Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger for failing to field an English player in the Champions League match against Real Madrid and matters came to a head in West Ham's 1-0 win over Arsenal. Then West Ham boss Pardew's enthusiastic celebrations appeared to irritate Wenger, who claimed he was 'provoked in a disrespectful way', with the pair having to be kept apart by the fourth official. On this occasion, it was the Gunners boss who was fined by the Football Association, with Pardew cleared of all charges.

March 2012: In a Tyne-Wear derby, it perhaps comes as no surprise that the tension boiled over, with Pardew, now Newcastle boss, clashing with Martin O'Neill following his celebration to Shola Ameobi's late equaliser in a heated match. Both managers pledged afterwards to keep their emotions in check in future.

August 2012: Pardew came under severe criticism and then afterwards labelled his behaviour 'ridiculous' when he shoved linesman Peter Kirkup in the Magpies' season opener against Tottenham after disagreeing with the official's decision to award Spurs a throw-in. Pardew once again apologised for his actions but the Football Association took a dim view and hit him with a two-match touchline ban and a £20,000 fine.

January 2014: Pardew became involved in another touchline row, less than a month after having heated words with Southampton boss Pochettino, with Manchester City manager Pellegrini. Television cameras clearly showed the Newcastle boss launching an expletive-laden volley at the Chilean. Pardew was spared punishment but said later: 'It was a heat of the moment thing, words we always have as managers, to a degree. I've apologised and I'm fortunate that he's accepted that.'


 

More...

Comments (159)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

love how everyone has their own version of how it would go down in their office. hahaha ' if I walked in and a manager nutted me........' hahahahaha coz thats the same as anything that happened. myler entered Pards Tech area, pushed him, pards says something, oh look myler goes back for more, pards rests his head against mylers cheek. end of. there is no headbutt, in actual fact myler put his hands on him twice. im sick of people saying he is not setting a good example, ehh, there all grown men, its not as if they are all going to walk out next week in strippy wife beaters and start nutting people. hahahaha, he will not get sacked, he will not walk he will get a nice ban probs for the last 10 games. lets all just settle down, anyone remeber Fergie throwing a boot at beckham, what was his punishment.

8
20
 Click to rate

This is great news for Newcastle, they now have a get out clause for a ridiculous 8 year contract... Result!!

8
9
 Click to rate

Don't know much about the sport but, why didn't Pardew jump out of the way when the ball came towards him? It seems like he never planned to move out of the way at all. Yes, the contact was unnecessary but, the player seemed to just want to get the ball backinto play and it seems like the manager wanted to waste time. That's just my view and opinion.

10
10
 Click to rate

Make all managers sit in the dug out, there is no need to have them prowling the touch line harassing officials and opponents anyway !

1
17
 Click to rate

Newcastle are safe ,so a rest of season ban would not be a problem

2
8
 Click to rate

If your kid kopped that off Pardew you would be into him forget about"it wasn't a head butt"or"he got pushed"this guy has been on the edge for a long time and it has to end. People are trying to clean up the game. Well start now with this guy, get rid of all thugs and this is one of them.

10
10
 Click to rate

if i had been pushed and shoved around like that Meyler would have had a REAL Glasgow kiss, not the nose peck that Pardew did!

6
23
 Click to rate

OK so Pardew has got previous so a 10 game stadium ban, and a further 10 games suspended, to be added to any other touchline ban he might get in the next 5 years. Might make him think before he does it again. Then he might get John Carver to do it for him.

3
9
 Click to rate

So the player pushing him out the way isn't what made pardew respond? I'm sure I'd have been in his face if he'd pushed me, typical pundits and explayers looking after their own.

5
16
 Click to rate

not going to sack him lets be honest.

2
12
 Click to rate

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now