LONDON: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has been handed a seven-match suspension by the Football Association for his headbutt on Hull midfielder David Meyler.

The first three matches will see Pardew banned from the stadium; for the last four he is banned from the touchline.

Pardew has also been fined £60,000 on top of the £100,000 he has already been fined by his club, and warned as to his future conduct.

The ban will begin immediately with no appeal planned. Newcastle’s next game is away to Fulham on Saturday.

Pardew said on the club’s official website: “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.”

Pardew, who admitted a misconduct charge, was involved in an altercation with Hull star Meyler during Newcastle’s 4-1 away win earlier this month.

As the fixtures stand, he will next be allowed in the dugout on April 28 when Newcastle travel to Arsenal. That is one of just three games that will remain by the time his ban ends.

Pardew was given a two-match touchline ban and £20,000 fine in August 2012 for pushing an assistant referee, and was also warned about his conduct in January this year following a heated exchange when he was caught on camera swearing at Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini.

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