A THREE-MAN independent regulatory commission will decide whether Alan Pardew faces a stadium ban today, but he is not the only man at Newcastle United in trouble with the Football Association.

It was confirmed yesterday that midfielder Dan Gosling is now facing a misconduct charge relating to betting and that he has also requested a personal hearing.

The situation is a further unwanted distraction for the Magpies, who return to Premier League action this Saturday at Fulham having had FA Cup weekend off.

Gosling has admitted the charge relating to being in breach of a rule which prohibits footballers from betting on competitions they have played in that season or matches that they have any direct or indirect influence on.

The 24-year-old, who has made five appearances this season, is now awaiting a date for his personal hearing in the hope of being able to ease the punishment which could be dished out to him.

In June last year Tottenham winger Andros Townsend became the first Premier League footballer to be punished for betting offences after he admitted placing several bets on fixtures in which he was not involved in but on competitions in which he was.

Townsend was handed a four-month ban, taking in the summer, three of which were suspended until July 1, 2016. He was also fined £18,000.

It is unclear what Gosling’s offences are for, but he will be looking to try to avoid a similar punishment when he gets to plead his case in front of a regulatory committee.

Pardew’s personal hearing is today and he has hired a QC to try to help his cause as he looks to avoid receiving the lengthy stadium ban which many have predicted.

The 52-year-old is expected to make a personal statement outlining his contrition for headbutting Hull City’s former Sunderland midfielder David Meyler.

The Football Association are likely to take in to account the two-match touchline ban and £20,000 fine he was handed in August 2012 for pushing an assistant referee because less than two seasons have elapsed since.

Pardew apologised for his behaviour in the immediate aftermath of the victory at Hull and that was accepted by both Meyler and by Hull City as a club.

The incident happened after Meyler had ended up in the Newcastle technical area after chasing a ball out of play and he ended up clashing with Pardew. Newcastle have already warned him and given him a £100,000 fine.

Pardew will hope to avoid the sort of lengthy ban which has been speculated about, although it would be a major surprise if he was sat in the dug-out at Craven Cottage this Saturday for the Premier League match with Fulham.

He could have Fabricio Coloccini available against the Cottagers, having welcomed the Argentine back to training yesterday in the build up to the trip to London.

Coloccini missed the win at Hull because he was allowed to return to South America because of a family bereavement but he is understood to have returned to Tyneside ahead of the trip top Fulham.

If deemed fit enough to be considered for the game, it could be that Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is left out to allow back in to partner Mike Williamson at the heart of the defence.