Mowbray punishment suspended
Mowbray had his punishment suspended by the FA commission
Wednesday, 19, Dec 2007 09:00
West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray's punishment for an altercation with a referee after a match against Sheffield Wednesday has been suspended.
Mowbray will now only have to serve the three-match touchline ban and pay a £3,000 if he transgresses again within the next 17 months.
The Baggies boss attended a personal hearing with the Football Association's (FA) disciplinary committee today and was able to persuade them to decrease the severity of their original decision.
Mowbray was charged with improper conduct and using abusive and insulting words towards referee Nigel Miller during the match on November 6th which ended in a 1-1 draw.
The 44-year-old was infuriated when Steve Watson equalised for Sheffield Wednesday five minutes into stoppage time when the fourth official had originally indicated only three minutes were required.
Mowbray also felt there had been a foul in the build up to Watson's goal and the incident caused him to run across the pitch to confront Miller at the end of the game.
The FA said that Mowbray's admission of guilt and previous disciplinary record had helped his appeal today.
A statement indicated: "In reaching their decisions, the commission considered Tony Mowbray's admittance of the charge and apology, his previous exemplary disciplinary record and the fact that he did not criticise the referee in the media."
Mowbray was warned as to his future conduct and was told that the incident will only be wiped from his record at the end of the 2008-09 season.