Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has reiterated his regret at the headbutt which has landed him with a hefty fine and seven-match ban.
The 52-year-old caused a storm earlier this month when he appeared to headbutt Hull City midfielder David Meyler when the pair came together on the touchline at the KC Stadium, a match in which the visitors won 4-1. He was immediately sent off and his employers handed him a £100,000 fine, whilst a Football Association charge soon followed.
An independent disciplinary panel have now handed Pardew with a further fine of £60,000, and have also ordered him to serve a seven-match ban, three of which forbid him from attending the stadium. The Magpies boss has been full of remorse after since the incident, and he has once more spoken of his regret at his actions.
“It was an independent panel and it was a decision that I was going to accept,” he said. “I had no intention to appeal the decision, whatever it was. I should never have walked forward and got involved in that situation when [Meyler] pushed me. Men make mistakes – my mistake was in front of millions of people, and you have to pay a price.
“I’ve had something like 678 games and only had one touchline ban before this one, but that doesn’t mean to say what I did has any justification. I’ve spoken to the LMA about maybe some management consultant issues that I could look at that might help. What I must do coming out of this situation is become a better manager.
“I just want to reiterate my apologies, to David and Steve (Bruce) in particular, to fans up and down country, but particularly my own at Newcastle who have been terrific. Also the club for supporting me over a situation I should never have got involved in and was stupid. I sent a letter to Steve to say there was no animosity on my side towards David, and to say sorry basically for the incident that happened. I deeply regret it.”
Pardew becomes the first Premier League manager to ever receive a full stadium ban, but he has a history of other flashpoints. Whilst at West Ham United he clashed with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger in 2006, and in 2012, he pushed an official after disagreeing with a decision during the Newcastle match against Tottenham Hotspur.
