Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has escaped punishment from the FA over the incident that occurred on the touchline between him and James McArthur during Palace’s 1-0 win over the midlands side at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
The incident involving the 51-year-old and the Palace midfielder led to the alleged sacking and re-instating of the manager by various owners that control the club and also created an on-going dispute between Pearson and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker in which the Leicester manager accused the weekly program claiming they had made “a mountain out of a molehill” when discussing the incident whilst reviewing the game.
Ah Nigel Pearson is blaming MOTD for making a mountain out of a molehill. We’d best be careful in future, the fella can look after himself.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 9, 2015
.@PaulMcCarthy66 if I was I’d tell you that he was sacked by one of the owners’ family and reinstated by another, but then I’m not. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 9, 2015
Crystal Palace midfielder McArthur played down the story after the game on Saturday when talking to the Croydon Advertiser by saying these types of incidents happen in football but also mentioned he was scared when the incident did occur.
“These things happen in football – I’ve collided into him and he said it was only a joke, so I’ll take it in that manner and we move on,” said MacArthur.
“If it’s on and off the field, it’s going to get blown out of proportion but there’s nothing in it on my part.
“I got a bit scared, to be honest! These thing happen and you see it quite a lot with managers and players throughout the game, so I’m not bothered by it.”
The Football Association have written to Nigel Pearson reminding him of his responsibilities on and off the field but will not face a similar charge to Alan Pardew during his time at Newcastle when he was banned for seven games for headbutting Hull’s David Meyler.
