NEWCASTLE UNITED HAVE fined Alan Pardew €120,000 and gave him a formal warning for headbutting an opposition player in the Premier League game at Hull. The 52-year-old clashed with Hull’s David Meyler during his side’s 4-1 win and later apologised for the sensational incident.
“Alan has accepted a formal warning from the club in relation to his behaviour today and also a club fine of €120,000,” said a club statement. Despite apologising, Pardew will still face a Football Association investigation.
“His behaviour was unacceptable and is not the behaviour we expect from the manager of Newcastle United,” added the Newcastle statement. “Sadly, the headlines will not be focused on the result or the efforts of the players, but instead on the actions of our manager. Alan has offered his sincere apologies to the club and it is clear he deeply regrets his actions.”
Pardew had claimed his actions were just a “heat of the moment thing”, but FA chairman Greg Dyke made it clear the English game’s governing body would launch a full probe into one of the most remarkable incidents in Premier League history. ”Well I’ve only just seen the clip and clearly it looks serious and we will investigate it,” Dyke told BBC Sport.
Pardew appeared to take umbrage when Meyler pushed him to recover the ball as the hosts tried to get back into the game at 3-1 down during the second-half on Saturday and the manager offered no protest when referee Kevin Friend sent him off.
Pardew, who has a history of explosive touchline bust-ups including a furious row with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger during his time at West Ham, was quick to accept responsibility for his behaviour after the match.
“It was a heat of the moment thing. I massively regret it,” Pardew said. ”He was right on top of me and I wanted to just ease him away from me but obviously I put my head in a forward motion. You can’t do that.
“I want to apologise to him, everyone at Hull and obviously my own fans as well. Sometimes when you’re on the sideline you can get involved in a moment like that. I don’t think it was a headbutt. It wasn’t a motion that was quick.” He added:
I believe my behaviour over the years has not resulted in too many fines and sitting in the stands, but this one probably will. Sir Alex Ferguson once said to me, ‘go and sit down’. I think he was probably right. I will have to sit down from now on.”
Hull manager Steve Bruce was keen to draw a line under the incident and said: “We accept Alan Pardew’s apology. He has been big enough and brave enough to come out and apologise which is that you would expect. In the heat of the moment things happen but Alan has apologised.
“I can only be complimentary to David Meyler because of the way he reacted to it. He could have rolled around on the floor but he didn’t. I am sure Alan will regret an unsavoury incident that I have not seen the like of before. It has obviously tarnished an afternoon for them,” Bruce added.
The scenes overshadowed a fine win for Newcastle as a double by Moussa Sissoko, one from Loic Remy and a late strike by Vurnon Anita saw them to a comfortable win.
