£8,000 fine but no ban for Hughes

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes was yesterday fined £8,000 by the FA after admitting a charge of improper conduct following his touchline dismissal at Newcastle United.

Hughes was sent to the stands in the 5-1 loss on Boxing Day. The Welshman has avoided a touchline ban and is free to take control of his side in tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie with Leicester.

Hughes was ordered from the dugout after he reacted in fury to the dismissal of midfielder Glenn Whelan and he was still making his way to his new vantage point when defender Marc Wilson was also redcarded.