By J Bateman
February 11 2003

Reading boss has been given a three match touchline ban after comments made to ref Frazier Stretton. Reading Boss Alan Pardew has been given a touchline ban and will sit it out in the stands ,after comments he made to referee Frazier Stretton after his teams 1-0 win against Watford on Novemeber 23rd.

Pardew said about the ban"I've been banished to the directors' box by the FA."

"The reason? Telling the referee exactly what I thought of him after the Watford game when he played five minutes overtime and Matty Upson got another cut in the last moments of the game."

"Perhaps I was over zealous and I'd like to apologise to our fans. I didn't want anybody to think that after Leicester I'm shirking my position on the edge of my technical area."

Pardew was in the stands watching his team sneek past Gillingham last night , and will carry on sitting in the stands for up and coming games against Millwall and Sheff Utd.