Pardew's Head Puts U.S. Fans In A Hayes

Only at Newcastle United could the best performance of the year turn into the biggest controversy of the season.

Alan Pardew's touchline skull assault against Hull City's David Meyler negated what could have been a day of rehabilitation for Newcastle's embattled manager (and any sense in doing our traditional tripartite post-match report). American commentators have already begun comparing the incident with our country's most infamous sideline offense by a coach: "Shades of Woody Hayes," said NBC's Jimmy Roberts, referencing the combustible Ohio State University football coach whose career ended after he punched an opposing player in the throat during the 1978 Gator Bowl. Numerous fans on Twitter wondered whether Pardew should be similarly dispatched from his position, including our own Tom Ziemer.

Saturday's incident is more complicated than what brought down Hayes. Pardew's attack was more a matter of intent than damage done - his noggin landed with little more force than a kiss. It could also be argued that Pardew was provoked by a push from the player (though some sharp-eyed tweeters pointed out that Pardew may have provoked the provocation by impeding the player from the ball). But Pardew faces a higher bar of conduct as a manager in a sport where violence is less tolerated (or glorified) than American football, especially in Hayes' era.

In the end Pardew will be judged not by Twitter but by the FA, which is about as predictable. Neither a red-card slap nor a season ban seem out of the realm of possibility. Justice in the matter probably rests not on what actually occurred but on the expectations of a Premier League manager. The act itself was less serious than the ramifications if touchlines aren't kept sacrosanct.

I myself am less troubled by the incident than many in the tweet-o-sphere. Sports generally benefit from judging the foul by the harm and not by an inevitably subjective moral code, especially in the heat of battle. One thing we can take from Saturday's performance, both in its hustle on the field and its over-bravado on the touchline: At least the manager and the players seem to care, which is more than we can say about the owner.

Comments

[Jaeger]

5-10 match ban and a fine if it was up to me... he shouldn't have done it but the Hull player pushed him. The FA doesn't really like Pardew much though so it could be the rest of the season, which is understandable but close to overdoing it.

Great win by the lads though. loved the movement and passing between players... great double save by krul in the beginning but questionable decision coming out for their goal.

[Achtoon]

Great win today, good football but a manager who is feeling the pressure. hopefully the ban won't be too long and we can push for Europe.

[Meditative Mag]

Thank you Bob for a sensible and reasoned post on the incident. Some of the stuff being printed about this is ludicrous.

[Steve]

For people to say he should be fired is just plain dumb! If the Hull player never pushed him to begin with, Pardew never would have reacted. Not saying that two wrongs make a right, but to fire someone over this would be pointless. The funniest thing for me is if this was a player, the FA would not go back and re-ref a game since the official saw the incident, but they can go back for a manager? This make no sense to me!

[Fiscus28]

If what Pardew did is considered a "violent" "headbutt" as has been reported in too many sources to count, then what Meyler did should be considered an unprovoked attack and he should be charged with assault and battery. A little perspective please. This is all nonsense.

Question: Had Pardew fallen over after being struck by Meyler, and broken his hip, what the story be? [PLAYER ATTACKS MANAGER IN TECHNICAL AREA!] That, too, would be nonsense.

[The Justice League]

Where is the justice?? Why wasn't Zidane banned? Oh, right. I forgot.