Magpies slam UEFA, FA for Bowyer blow

NEWCASTLE yesterday criticised the FA and UEFA after being rocked by the news that midfielder Lee Bowyer remains ineligible for European competition.

The club believed a six-match ban, stemming from his time at Leeds when he was guilty of stamping on the head of Malaga’s Gerardo during a UEFA Cup tie, had been served by two Champions League matches and four UEFA Cup games.

They now face Valerenga in the third round of the UEFA Cup.

Although Bowyer was excluded from the squads for those games, UEFA say he should have been declared ‘eligible to play’ when the club submitted their player lists.

Newcastle were informed by the FA that his name need not be included due to his suspension, and only detected the administrative mix-up in October.

Newcastle claim they were “shocked and exasperated” to hear from the FA that under UEFA rules, Bowyer has not yet started his ban.