Aston Villa analyst gets stadium ban after '20-man' Newcastle tunnel melee
Villa have been fined £30,000 and seen one of the club’s analysts receive a two-match stadium ban following an alleged 20-man tunnel melee in the Boxing Day defeat at Newcastle.
The analyst, Victor Manas, was also fined an additional £4,000 after admitting an FA charge of improper conduct though Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall escaped uncensured after denying the same charge.
Both men were sent-off by referee Anthony Taylor when tempers flared as the teams left the St James’s Park pitch at half-time.
Villa’s staff had been left angry at Taylor’s earlier decision to dismiss striker Jhon Duran for what he perceived as a deliberate stamp on Magpies defender Fabian Schar.
Manas and Tindall were alleged to be at the centre of what the FA described as a “mass confrontation” in the tunnel.
Both clubs admitted a charge of failing to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way around the tunnel area at half time.
Villa were hit with a £30,000 fine, with Newcastle hit with a £20,000 penalty. Both clubs were warned over their future conduct.
