EPL side Newcastle Manager Alan Pardew "has been charged with improper conduct" by the FA after headbutting Hull midfielder David Meyler on Saturday, according to the BBC. He has until Thursday "to contest the charge, which could lead to a long ban." Leading figures at the FA "view the incident as more serious than then-Blackpool manager Paul Ince's shove on an official," which resulted in a five-match stadium ban in October. Ex-Newcastle Chair Freddy Shepherd expects the FA to "make an example of Pardew." Shepherd: "It will be bigger than a 10-match ban, they [the FA] will really go to town" (BBC, 3/3). In London, Jamie Jackson reported Pardew "will not face police action," Humberside Police confirmed. It "has received no complaint from Meyler or the Tigers and the police are happy to let the Football Association deal with the matter." Chief Inspector Rich Kirven said, "We have been working with the FA and the football club to progress the matter appropriately" (GUARDIAN, 3/3). In London, Henry Winter reported "this is no time for FA clemency." Pardew "has to be banished from the country’s stadia until next season." Not "just from the dugout but from the ground." To "his credit, Pardew accepts he has erred badly." He "has shown contrition." He has "been fined by Newcastle and given a formal warning." He "can possibly count himself fortunate not to have been dismissed for gross misconduct" (TELEGRAPH, 3/2).
