Newcastle manager Alan Pardew headbutts Hull City player during game
Newcastle's Alan Pardew, shown here not using his head as a weapon. (Serena Taylor/Getty Images)
Yes, you're reading that headline right: During the 72nd minute of Newcastle's 4-1 win over Hull City, manager Alan Pardew took exception to Hull City's David Meyler moving him aside to get in place for a throw-in and decided to show his displeasure by headbutting Meyler on the sideline.
https://vine.co/v/MKxz3d1jddj
As far as skull-to-skull contact goes, it's not exactly Zinedine Zidane sending Marco Materazzi to the ground during the World Cup Final in 2006. But it's still a remarkably stupid move from Pardew, who was immediately sent off the touchline and into the stands and likely faces a lengthy suspension, if not worse, from the Premier League.
In case you were wondering, by the way, how British soccer announcers reacted to Pardew's outburst, check out Sky Sports' Jeff Stelling and his howls of disbelief:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb71aW3KG1o
After the match, Pardew apologized for the headbutt. According to the BBC, Pardew told reporters, "I tried to push [Meyler] away with my head, and I shouldn't have done that. ... It was a heat of the moment thing. I massively regret it and I will have to sit down from now on."
