Kinnear to escape FA rap over bench contact

Published on Monday 6 October 2008 21:44

NEWCASTLE United interim manager Joe Kinnear is unlikely to face any further disciplinary action over his attempts to contact the bench during Sunday's match at Everton.

The 61-year-old, who was serving the second game of a two-match touchline ban at Goodison Park, was shepherded back into the tunnel by a police officer after making his way down from the stand.

Kinnear's presence in the tunnel was reported to the Football Association by both match referee Howard Webb and fourth official Anthony Taylor, who had a brief exchange with him.

However, it is understood disciplinary chiefs will take no action other than writing to the former Wimbledon manager to remind him of the regulations surrounding touchline bans.

Kinnear explained after the game that, after failing to reach assistant manager Chris Hughton by telephone, he had left the stand to pass on instructions to substitute the struggling Jose Enrique. He said: "That's when I was running down to the tunnel. I couldn't get the phone to work. Every time I was getting through to Chris, it was cutting out. I dumped the phone and ran down. I was just shouting round the corner. I didn't go on the pitch, so I don't know why anyone is making anything of it.

"I got the substitution sorted, and went back upstairs. I want to be on the bench. I want to see things and act quickly. Thankfully, it's all over."

Kinnear was given a ban in January 2005 for an offence committed during his spell at Nottingham Forest some two months earlier.

However, he had resigned from his post in the meantime and had not worked as a manager since when he was appointed by the Magpies on an interim basis last week.

He sat in the stands at St James' Park for the 2-1 defeat by Blackburn Rovers last weekend, and has now completed his ban.

Meanwhile, the FA is also considering Kinnear's foul-mouthed outburst in his now infamous pre-match press conference last Thursday, in which he left sections of the written press in little doubt as to his feelings over their coverage of his first few days on Tyneside.

Kinnear was incensed by reports he believed ridiculed him after he showed up at the training ground and none of the first-team players were there. Kinnear also accused the reporters present of undermining his position, even though he had not taken charge of the team in a game.

The former Tottenham defender could be asked for an explanation, but it is understood charges are unlikely to follow.