Shearer accepts punishment

By Matthew Jones
December 3 2002

The player and manager Sir Bobby Robson claimed his actions had simply been those of a man trying to free himself from the Italian's bear hug, but a 2 match ban was handed out, and Shearer is not going to appeal.

Newcastle captain Alan Shearer has escaped further punishment after being handed a Champions League ban. The 32-year-old striker decided not to appeal against the two-match suspension which will keep him out of his side's Group A trips to Barcelona next week and Bayer Leverkusen in February.

The striker was punished by UEFA after his clash with Inter Milan defender Fabio Cannavaro had been studied on video. It was ruled that he had elbowed the Italian.

The player and manager Sir Bobby Robson claimed his actions had simply been those of a man trying to free himself from the Italian's bear hug and although the panel took Cannavaro's provocation into account, they decided the former England skipper had to be punished.

Strike partner Craig Bellamy, who was sent off just five minutes into the same game for kicking out at Marco Materazzi, was fined a maximum of two weeks' wages - an estimated £30,000 - by the club, but it is understood that Shearer will not face further action.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd indicated in announcing the player's decision not to appeal against his ban that the club would consider internally if they should act, but they have now decided that the suspension - which will hurt their captain as much as it does his team's chances of progressing in the competition - will suffice.