Arsene Wenger has been hit with a four-match touchline suspension for last Sunday’s tirade but he has escaped a stadium ban.
The Arsenal manager appeared before an FA disciplinary panel on Friday after being charged with misconduct over his behaviour towards referee Jon Moss and fourth official Anthony Taylor during the dramatic 2-1 win over Burnley at the Emirates.
An FA statement declared: “Arsene Wenger has been given a four-match touchline ban with immediate effect after he was charged for misconduct following Arsenal’s game against Burnley on Sunday 22 January 2017.
“It was alleged that in or around the 92nd minute, he used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official.
“It was further alleged that following his dismissal from the technical area, his behaviour in remaining in the tunnel area and making physical contact with the fourth official amounted to improper conduct.
“The Arsenal manager, who was also fined £25,000, admitted the charge and requested a personal hearing which took place before an Independent Regulatory Commission today [Friday 27 January 2017].
“Wenger was sent to the stands after swearing and launching a tirade at referee Jon Moss, then stayed in the tunnel area for the end of the game before pushing Taylor.”
Wenger apologized immediately after the match saying:
“I regret everything,” he said “I should have shut up, gone in and go home. I apologise for that,”
“Look, it was nothing bad. I said something that you hear every day in football. Overall nine times out of ten you are not sent to the stand for that. If I am, I am, and I should have shut up completely.
“I was sent out. I thought I could watch it from the corridor. I went inside and watched it from the corridor.”
The ban means Wenger will not be in the dugout for next Saturday’s must-win Premier League clash at Chelsea. He will also miss this Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Southampton and league games against Watford and Hull, provided this weekend’s match does not go to a replay.
But Wenger will still be allowed in the dressing room before the match and at half-time and he will be allowed to communicate with his backroom team during the match. So other than not being on the bench, is there any real impact to Arsenal?
Alan Pardew received a seven-game ban at Newcastle in 2014 — the longest for a manager in the Premier League era — for headbutting Hull midfielder David Meyler. Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was banned for five games in 2011 for comments about referee Martin Atkinson.
