With Newcastle up 1-0 on Spurs in the 54th minute of their first Premier League match of the season, Magpies manager Alan Pardew got a little overexcited and shoved a linesman. Pardew was reacting to the ball going out off a Spurs player, which the linesman apparently didn't see as play continued, so Pardew gave him a shove from behind. Needless to say, this did not go over well and Pardew was sent to the stands, where he tried and failed to get walkie-talkie communication going with his assistants.
Newcastle still won 2-1 with an 80th-minute penalty from Hatem Ben Arfa, but after the match Pardew was a bit embarrassed.
From Reuters:
"It was ridiculous really, I have to apologise publicly, I've been to see (the officials) already," he told ESPN television.
"I've been telling my players this week to behave and have the Olympic spirit. I can only apologise. It was stupid. I don't know what I was thinking."
By "have the Olympic spirit" I wonder if Pardew meant that he wishes he kicked the official in the face like that Taekwondo fighter in Beijing four years ago. Probably not. People seem to be forgetting these things when praising the sanctity of the Olympics lately.
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