Newcastle fines Alan Pardew for head butt of David Meyler [Video]

Newcastle Manager Alan Pardew, a fiery sort, head butted Hull midfielder David Meyler after the two crossed paths along the sideline during an English Premier League game on Saturday, leading to a warning and $168,000 fine by the club.

Pardew, who was sent to the stands by referee Kevin Friend, evidently took exception to Meyler brushing past him in an effort to retrieve the ball, which had rolled out of bounds. As Meyler moved back toward the field, Pardew confronted him and met him forehead to face.

“His behavior was unacceptable and is not the behavior we expect from the manager of Newcastle United,” the club said in a statement on its website.

The Newcastle manager apologized after the game, which his side won, 4-1, but said he didn’t believe he actually head butted Meyler.

“He was right on top of me and I wanted to just ease him away from me but obviously I put my head in a forward motion,” Pardew said of jostling with Meyler. “I want to apologize to him, everyone at Hull and obviously my own fans as well. ... I don’t think it was a head butt. It wasn’t a motion that was quick.”

Pardew’s actions will be reviewed by the Football Assn., England’s governing body of soccer. Penalties, including a fine and suspension, seem likely.

“It looks serious and clearly we’ll investigate it, but until then there’s nothing I can say,” said Greg Dyke, chairman of the FA, to the BBC in an interview after the game.