In the mega-bucks world of Premier League football, £60,000 isn’t a lot of money (we’d all have to sell our houses) but it does come on top of the £100,000 fine already handed out by his club – again, not all that much when you consider Wayne Rooney is paid £300,000 a week or the fact that Pardew has years left to run on a ridiculously long contract.
His FA punishment, which came following a personal hearing in front of a three-man independent regulatory commission, will see the hot-headed former West Ham and Southampton manager banned from the stadium for three matches and for the last four he is banned from the touchline.
Some within the game may feel Pardew has escaped rather lightly despite the record punishment, especially Toon hero Alan Shearer who had called on the club to sack their manager in the aftermath – it being one of many previous indiscretions including shoving a linesman and high profile spats with Martin O’Neill, Manuel Pellegrini and Arsene Wenger.
Fellow pundit Robbie Savage (who is taking part with Shearer incidentally in Sport Relief’s battle of the backsides) called on him to receive a 10-match ban. “He shouldn’t be allowed in the ground for the last 10 games of the season,” Savage told BBC Radio 5 live.
The headbutting incident happened when Magpies were leading 3-1 at the KC Stadium on March 1. Pardew and Meyler came into contact the Irish midfielder chased a ball out of play close to the Newcastle manager’s technical area.
Referee Kevin Friend cautioned the player for his part in the incident and then sent Pardew to the stands, from where he watched the remainder of the game.
Pardew issued an apology after the game but denied it was a headbutt.
The ban will begin immediately. Newcastle’s next game is away to Fulham on Saturday.
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