Ian Evatt speaks of his regret over confrontation with Shrewsbury’s Morgan Feeney at the end of the League One fixture on Saturday.
The Bolton manager says there was context behind his confrontational behaviour with the 42-year-old experiencing a moment of frustration following the 2-2 draw at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
The incident unfolded after the fourth official indicated that there would be eight minutes of added time, yet the referee concluded the match a minute early while Bolton was striving for a win.
He went over to address referee Declan Bourne, during which Morgan Feeney seemed to interject. This prompted Evatt to push the defender aside and subsequently press his head against Feeney’s.
Complete head loss from the manager š³
Bolton boss Ian Evatt was shown a straight red card for this altercation with Shrewsbury defender Morgan Feeney#BWFC | #Salop pic.twitter.com/JVmtbs74XF
ā ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 6, 2024
Evatt’s behaviour drew comparisons to Alan Pardew’s infamous headbutt on Hull’s David Meyler in 2014 while managing Newcastle, an act that resulted in a three-game stadium ban and a four-match touchline suspension.
Additionally, Pardew faced a Ā£60,000 fine from the FA and a Ā£100,000 penalty imposed by then-Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.
Evatt appeared stunned and dismayed as he made his way off the field after receiving his dismissal.
Ian Evatt on his red card at the weekend #bwfc pic.twitter.com/lcXKXv59ZH
ā BoltonWanderersBN (@bn_bolton) October 7, 2024
Evatt has since spoken about the incident: “What I will say is that I’m disappointed. I’m not happy with the way things turned out.
“There wasn’t an issue with the referee at all, we were discussing the timing situation.
“There was context to my actions. Their player grabbed me, saying some not nice things and I reacted in a way I shouldn’t have done.
“Whether it was emotion, frustration, passion, whatever you want to call it, probably went too far.
“But as I said, there was context behind the way I reacted and I’ll be discussing that with the FA [Football Association].”
He feels there was an over-reaction to it with the media.
āIt went too far,ā he told The Bolton News. āBut I think there has been a bit of an over-reaction. I understand people want to get clicks etc, etc, and if itās two players it is a yellow card and nobody speaks about it.
āBecause 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 shouldnāt have reacted in that manner regardless of what was said to me or what happened.
āLike always I will go through the process with the FA and take whatever punishment comes my way.ā
Bolton assistant Pete Atherton conducted post-match duties, saying: “The gaffer went over to the ref and asked why there wasnāt time added on to the time added, if you will.
“They talked about that and one of their players has started to get involved.
“They had words, the ref gave the gaffer a red and their player a yellow.
“So I am not quite sure why there is a red for one and a yellow for the other. It was nothing that he said to the referee.ā
His side get set to host Aston Villaās Under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy in midweek, any potential ban Evatt will get won’t kick in until the 19th of October.
Reports state that Bolton fear Evatt could face a more lengthy punishment than the regulation one-game ban, expected to miss their next game at home to Burton, but could also be unavailable for their games against Birmingham and Peterborough.
Here’s how fans reacted as Ian Evatt speaks of his regret over the confrontation with Shrewsbury’s Morgan Feeney…
@VoielsDan: Their player grabbed me and said some not nice things. Awww poor Ian. Woe is me.
@Dunc11111111: Proper compo face that šš Ready to grass on someone for calling him a naughty name #bwfc
@BCofBWFC: The most arrogant man youāll ever see in football. Itās never his fault, always an answer for everything. He is literally the most disingenuous human being there is.
@bwfcbrandon: So if one of our players headbutts someone and costs us a game, but āthere was contextā behind why they did it, then all will be fine? Man up and take some responsibility.
@Latics1932: The gift that keeps on giving!!! What a tool
@CabezaJake: Excuses. Never his fault is it š
@Lalbonda: 10 more years, 10 more years Ian Evatt šššš
@Bwfc1976: Didn’t hear him apologising once š„“
@GregFarrimond: Be some ādiscussionā with the FA this. āThe bloke 20 years younger and a foot smaller than me said some hurty words so I put one on him.ā
@SamTrotChatSBG:
The context: Iām an angry chav.
#BWFC
@jamesbwfc22: Even now he still blames anyone but himselfš¤£š¤£youāre a grown adult, shouldnāt react like that when someone says āsome not very nice thingsā #bwfc
@stfchewitt: @salopcast I know we are in the preverbal at the moment but thank god we havenāt got this clown!
@oafcwould: Not sure there is a bigger dickhead in football at the moment, some achievement
@beardedtyke: Squared up to a 19 year old kid because the result didnāt go your way Ian. Go give your head a wobble
@mingmong1976: This guy is the biggest charlatan ever !! When things go his way heās all sweetness and light but when things donāt he does things like this !! Not the first time. Heās basically a petulant child
@mightybongsmon: It’s never his fault
@GarethHulme: Fuck me he put his head into someoneās face who was probably behaving like a twat itās not a big deal is it!
@denperry1111: The gift that keeps on giving. When will he leave.
@brad_taylor10: Just canāt apologise can he, arrogant man
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