THROWBACK TUESDAYS: THE PARDEW HEADBUTT THAT SURPISED THE PREM

Featured Image Credit: Daily Mirror

Everyone loves a comical moment in football, like a great goal, they become and stay transfixed in our minds for eternity. You could be sitting at a football game with your mate 20 years on, they’d ask you, “remember when…” and you'd share a laugh between the two of you about the memory you so clearly remember. This week we focus on one of those, so… do you remember when Alan Pardew headbutted David Meyler, yeah so do I. 

It was Saturday 1st March 2014, Newcastle had travelled down to the KC Stadium to face Hull City in a seemingly flat mid-table clash. With Newcastle 3-1 up and cruising, a moment of madness was sparked when the ball went out of play near the dugouts.

David Meyler, who is best known nowadays for his YouTube gaming channel, gave Pardew a small shove as he went to collect the ball for a Hull throw. On his way back to take the throw, the former Hull midfielder was abruptly met with a disgruntled Alan Pardew, who exchanged a few words with the Irishman and then threw his head into the Hull midfielder's face. 

Pandemonium erupted on the pitch with both teams running to the scene wanting to investigate a furious Meyler reaction. It was all handbags in the end, but Pardew’s moment of madness was definitely one for the Premier League scrapbook. He was sent to the stands and did his best to make up for his reactions in a post-match press conference, claiming he was and always has been “too close to the action”. 

Pardew, who was also banned for two games in 2012 for pushing an assistant referee, was under pressure from the FA and the Newcastle board. At one stage many people thought he would be facing the sack, but in the end he was fined a hefty £100,000 by the Magpies and given a formal warning a week after the incident. 

Robbie Savage, football pundit and former Derby County midfielder said: “couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Pardew throw his head into Meyler, absolutely disgraceful behaviour from a manager”.  

It’s funny, it just shows you what football can throw up in the most unpredictable moments. Newcastle were on top, dominating and ended up winning the game 4-1, why would Pardew lose his cool so quickly? And why would he choose a headbutt, nobody wins with a headbutt, bizarre!