Football news: Arsene Wenger gets one match touchline ban
When it comes to Arsenal football club, things don’t appear any simple. Boasting such a wide array of attacking-talent and yet they find it difficult to break down defences of teams like Sunderland. Credit to Sunderland for their dogged defending against
the Gunners on Saturday but Arsenal should have had a better result than a 1-1 draw. And now only after five games Arsenal find themselves trailing the runaway league leaders Chelsea by 4 points.
Injuries have been the perennial problem for Arsene Wenger’s side, and now the gaffer himself faces a touchline ban.
Arsene Wenger has been charged by the football Association for improper conduct following his misdemeanours after the match against Sunderland on Saturday.
The Gunners conceded a late equalizer when Arsenal defence literally went to sleep in the box and Darren Bent pounced on to slot home with what was virtually the last kick of the game. The result left Wenger fuming, as his side blew up a chance to go top
of the Premier League table temporarily, as Chelsea were not playing their game against Blackpool until a day later.
Darren Bent’s goal at the stadium of light was scored 15 seconds after the allotted stoppage time and Wenger was seen sarcastically patting referee Martin Atkinson’s back before lambasting the referee in his post match interview.
If Wenger decides not to appeal against the decision, he will face one match touchline ban and a fine of 8000 pounds after FA found him being guilty of insulting the match officials and using derogatory language.
A statement on the FA website read: "Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been charged with using insulting and/or abusive language and behaviour amounting to improper conduct. The charges relate to Wenger's conduct towards match officials at the conclusion
of Arsenal's match against Sunderland on September 18.
Under the Football Association’s new fast track methods, the Arsenal manager has time until Thursday the 23rd of September to appeal against the decision.
Wenger can either plead guilty to the charges or appeal against the decision, which will result in a review of the verdict, resulting in increased punishment for the Frenchman.
If Wenger denies the charges, the case will then proceed to be heard by the Football Association’s regulatory Commission.
Arsene Wenger lost his cool as such a late draw only felt like a loss, since his side conceded a very late equalizer and that too what he considered was over the allotted time limit.
In his post match interview, Wenger criticized Martin Atkinson for showing two yellow cards to midfielder Alexander Song and eventually sending him off.
Although Arsene Wenger’s side coped rather well with the man disadvantage and almost came home with all three points, but Darren Bent spoiled the party for Arsenal.
Four minutes of stoppage time were added at the end of 90 minutes and Martin Atkinson decided to let the game go on for another 30 seconds or so, as Sunderland were on the attack and he was actually right; Sunderland did manage to score a goal from the move.
The stoppage time added at the end of any match is only the minimum amount of time to be added, and it’s entirely at the disposal of the on-field umpire to how much time he decides to add on top of that.
Last campaign, Arsenal received an apology from Keith Hackett the referee’s chief, for Wenger’s dismissal in the 2-1 loss against Manchester United.
Wenger was sent off the touchline and into the stands by Mike Dean in the dying minutes of the match at Old Trafford, when Lee Probert, the fourth official, advised the referee to send off the Frenchman.
Wenger’s offence in that match was kicking a bottle in anger, as his side conceded a late goal in the match and eventually lost the match to their title rivals.
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