Bowyer fined over on-field fracas

Former Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer has been fined £600 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs after he admitted sparking an on-pitch brawl because ex-Magpies team-mate Kieron Dyer did not pass him the ball.

The 29-year-old, now with West Ham, pleaded guilty at Newcastle magistrates court to using threatening behaviour after the pair were involved in an on-field brawl in the 3-0 defeat by Aston Villa at St James’ Park in April 2005.

Bowyer was charged in June last year following the brawl for which the pair received red cards.

The former England international, having already been red-carded that season, was given a four-match ban by the Football Association, who then gave Bowyer a further three games and a £30,000 fine.

Bowyer was also fined six weeks wages by the club – thought to be in the region of £200,000 – although Dyer was not fined as Bowyer was alleged to have thrown the first punch.

In a statement afterwards, Bowyer said the incident had been “blown out of all proportion” and had already cost him £250,000 in lost wages and a £30,000 Football Association fine.