Alan Pardew facing stadium ban as FA prepare to throw the book at Newcastle boss
DISGRACED Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is facing a STADIUM ban for headbutting David Meyler.
NUTTER: What was Alan Pardew thinking when he did this to David Meyler? [GETTY]
The Football Association will today charge Pardew with violent conduct after Saturday’s shocking attack on the Hull midfielder.
But Starsport understands a normal touchline ban is considered too lenient and Pardew will instead have the book thrown at him for his latest flare-up.
He is now facing a five game ban which would prevent him from even stepping inside the stadium on matchdays - a punishment unprecedented in the Premier League.
FA sources say they are treating the case “very seriously indeed” but also accept they are in “uncharted territory”.
Pardew has already been hit with a £100,000 fine by his club and issued with a final warning over his conduct after confronting Meyler on the touchline and then butting him during Newcastle’s 4-1 win at the KC Stadium.
Despite calls for Pardew to resign or be sacked, Starsport understands owner Mike Ashley never seriously considered firing him.
But although he has escaped with his job, Pardew has been left under no illusions that if he steps out of line again, he will be axed.
In a statement issued six hours after the manager’s moment of madness, the club attempted to draw a line under events.
NO AXE FOR PARDS: Mike Ashley never seriously considered giving Alan Pardew the boot [GETTY]
But that won’t save the 52-year-old from the FA’s wrath and officials are determined to make an example of him.
Pardew is no stranger to touchline bust-ups having been embroiled in previous flare-ups with Arsene Wenger and Martin O’Neill among others.
Last season he was banned for two games and fined £20,000 for shoving an assistant referee.
And in January he escaped punishment for calling Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini a “f****** old c***”.
Although a complete stadium ban would be unheard of in the top flight, Paul Ince was given the same harsh penalty this season while in charge at Blackpool for “violently shoving” a fourth official in an expletive-laden rant, having earlier been sent to the stands in a 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
Pardew has already said he will stay sat down in future and let his No. 2 John Carver stand in the technical area during games.
He issued several apologies on Saturday night with his actions overshadowing an impressive Toon win.
Witnesses say he spent the two-and-a-half hour coach journey back to Tyneside in silence, not knowing whether his latest moment of madness would cost him his job.