Mikel Arteta Finally charged by FA over Arsenal VAR meltdown after Newcastle defeat – Heartbreaking moment for Arsenal fans as the punishment seems to affect league matches
Mikel Arteta has been charged by the FA over his comments made after Arsenal’s controversial 1-0 defeat to Newcastle earlier this month.
Arsenal boss Arteta labelled the officiating a “disgrace,” claiming that he felt “sick” after Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon scored a hotly-debated winner which an independent panel has since ruled to be a valid goal. Now the FA have taken action.
A press release issued on Thursday read: “Mikel Arteta has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following comments that he made in media interviews after Arsenal’s Premier League game against Newcastle United on Saturday 4 November.
“It’s alleged that his comments constitute misconduct as they are insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or bring the game into disrepute. Mikel Arteta has until Tuesday 21 November to provide a response to this charge.”
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, the Arsenal manager fumed: “Praising my players for the way we played, we didn’t deserve to lose the match playing in their ground and we lose because of clear and obvious decisions. It is embarrassing, it is a disgrace, that’s what it is, a disgrace.”
Arteta, who’d waited for VAR to check three different aspects of Gordon’s goal before it was allowed to stand, added: “It is how I feel. The amount of messages we’ve sent saying this cannot continue. I’m sorry, embarrassing. I’m defending my players when I have to, I defend my job when it is not good enough. I have to be here, to say it now, it is not acceptable, too much at stake.”
The Spaniard was widely condemned for his comments but Arsenal released a statement less than 24 hours after the game in support of Arteta. “Arsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments after yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors on Saturday evening,” the club said.
