Home
Ian Evatt has expressed regret over his red card confrontation after Saturday’s heated 2-2 draw with Shrewsbury Town.
The Wanderers boss is preparing himself for punishment from the Football Association’s disciplinary committee which the club fear could exceed the regulation one-game suspension and fine.
Evatt’s confrontation with Shrews captain Morgan Feeney after the final whistle at the Toughsheet Stadium became headline news around the country at the weekend.
Some have even drawn parallels with the record seven-game ban and £100,000 fine issued to then-Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew when he fronted up to Hull City midfielder David Meyler in 2014.
Evatt has claimed in mitigation that Feeney did offer verbal provocation, and “grabbed” at him as he spoke to referee Declan Bourne on the pitch. And he has also reasoned that coverage of the incident was blown out of proportion by the media.
Unable to speak to the media directly after the game because of EFL directives, the first chance the local press had to speak to him on the record about the incident came at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
“It went too far,” he told The Bolton News. “But I think there has been a bit of an over-reaction. I understand people want to get clicks etc, etc, and if it’s two players it is a yellow card and nobody speaks about it.
“Because of the process I am not able to give context at the time as to why I reacted like that and it is difficult for me, but I will say I regret it and that I am sorry, I shouldn’t have reacted in that manner regardless of what was said to me or what happened.
“Like always I will go through the process with the FA and take whatever punishment comes my way.”
Wanderers return to action tonight against Aston Villa’s Under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, but any potential ban Evatt receives will not kick in until October 19, when the Whites return to league action against Burton Albion.
Source