MIKEL Arteta faces a potential touchline ban for his verbal attack on Prem refs.
Arsenal chief Arteta went on the warpath after the Gunners’ controversial defeat at Newcastle.
Outraged Arteta slammed the decision by ref Stuart Attwell and VAR Andy Madley, branding it “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.
Arsenal then put out what many considered an inflammatory statement backing the Spaniard and presenting a “dossier” of poor decisions against them they claimed justified his stance.
Arteta doubled down two days later, suggesting there was a “stink” about decisions – which some suggested implied a conspiracy against the North Londoners.
And now the FA has finally intervened, after receiving Arteta’s “observations” in response to an initial inquiry from Wembley disciplinary chiefs.
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In a statement, the FA said: “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.”
It means a decision on punishment will be made before Arsenal’s next Prem game at Brentford on November 25.
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A touchline ban is more likely than a full stadium suspension, although Arteta will be hopeful of escaping with a fine and warning if he admits the charge.
PGMOL bosses were understood to be seething about the comments, believing they had been entirely out of place.
Refs’ chief Howard Webb also backed Attwell and Madley during this week’s “Match Officials Mik’d Up” broadcast review of the incident.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
