Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer was fined six weeks’ wages — about £210 000 (R2,4-million) — on Monday for fighting with teammate Kieron Dyer on the pitch during a Premier League game.
The two players received red cards for fighting during Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Aston Villa at St James’ Park. Bowyer threw punches and scuffled with Dyer, startling 50 000 home fans late in the game.
”Lee Bowyer has been handed an unprecedented fine, severely censured and additionally warned as to his future conduct by Newcastle United,” the club said in a statement. ”The fine, amounting to six weeks’ wages, is the highest fine handed out by the club.”
Bowyer’s agent said he has accepted the fine.
”He regrets what has happened, but that is it now,” David Giess said. ”He had already apologised to Kieron Dyer privately before the public one today.”
Dyer was not fined or censured. Newcastle said the club will appeal against his red card.
Chairperson Freddy Shepherd and manager Graeme Souness interviewed Bowyer and Dyer at the club’s training ground on Monday morning.
Both players are set to pick up three-match bans, which will keep them out of the FA Cup semifinal against Manchester United on April 17.
”I can tell you that they’ve been speaking to each other over the weekend, they’ve had a laugh about it,” Souness said, standing next to both players. ”Both regret what happened and it’s something we want to put behind us.”
Souness said the fight was not the culmination of a long-running feud between Dyer and Bowyer.
”Everyone at Newcastle United knows this is completely without foundation — on the contrary, the players get on very well together — and that’s why the two players were having a laugh about it whilst at the same time fully appreciating the seriousness of the incident,” Souness said.
Asked if both players have a future at the club, Souness replied: ”Most definitely.”
The fight broke out after Bowyer seemed angered that Dyer hadn’t passed him the ball several times in attacking positions. Bowyer threw the first punches, with Dyer largely fending them off.
Both were ordered by captain Alan Shearer to make public apologies after the match.
”What happened was a disgrace to the name of Newcastle United Football Club and to our loyal supporters,” Shearer said. ”I’m very angry still and very frustrated by it all, especially when things had been going so well and the spirit within the camp has been so good over the last few months.”
British Sports Minister Richard Caborn said club chairpersons should set standards of conduct for players.
”Incidents like Saturday are only bringing the game into disrepute. What happens on the park on a Saturday happens in the playground on the Monday,” Caborn said.
”These players and the club have a responsibility to the wider community. It is our national game and needs to be played to the highest possible standards, which need to be set by the chairman and the board of clubs.”
Newcastle are in 11th place in the Premier League and have reached the semifinals of the Uefa Cup and FA Cup. The club haven’t won a trophy since 1969.
”We will be focused on trying to do our best between now and the end of the season, we’ve got everything to play for and the only important thing is to put this behind us,” Souness said. — Sapa-AP