Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has been handed the longest managerial ban in Premier League history and given a fine of £60,000 for his headbutting of David Meyler at Hull at the start of March.
Pardew has received a seven match ban, which will keep off the touchline and out of reach of opposition player's craniums until they visit the Emirates Stadium on 28 April. For the first three matches, Pardew will be unable to go to the stadium when Newcastle are playing.
Pardew has accepted the ban and said in a statement released by the club in the past while.
As I have made clear, I deeply regret the incident and again wholeheartedly apologise to all parties for my conduct, which I understand was not acceptable. I will accept the punishment handed down by the FA today. My focus now turns to preparing the team for this weekend's game against Fulham and finishing the season as strongly as possible.
Stadium bans are a relatively recent development. Paul Ince was given a five match stadium ban for violently shoving a match official last October. The ruling has been criticised for showcasing the bizarrely ad-hoc, lucky dip nature of the FA's disciplinary system.
FA disciplinary system all over the place (again). Pardew lucky to get only 3-game stadium ban + 4-game touchline ban #lawyers
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 11, 2014
The previous record for the longest ban was held by Alex Ferguson when he was banished from the touchline for five games when he attacked Martin Atkinson's handling of Manchester United's defeat to Chelsea in early 2011, remarking that "you want for a fair referee or at least a strong referee. We didn't get that." At no point was Fergie banned from entering the Stadium.
Arsene Wenger had been issued with a whopping 12 game ban for "violent and threatening behaviour" towards a fourth official at Sunderland in 2001, but on appeal this was downgraded to just a reprimand and a fine.
