“Arsene Wenger will serve a touchline ban for Arsenal’s next three matches after he was charged with misconduct,” an FA statement said. “It follows an independent regulatory commission hearing today at which the Arsenal manager admitted that his language and behaviour in the match officials’ changing room after the West Brom game on Sunday was abusive, improper and questioned the integrity of the match referee. He was also fined £40,000 ($54,000).”
The veteran French coach was furious after the 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns on New Year’s Eve, when Arsenal defender Calum Chambers was penalised by referee Mike Dean for a handball that resulted in the home side scoring a last minute spot-kick equaliser.
Arsenal conceded another penalty in their Premier League fixture against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, when Eden Hazard went down following a challenge from Hector Bellerin. The match ended 2-2 after defender Bellerin thrashed home an equaliser in stoppage time.
Wenger will start his touchline ban for tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie at Nottingham Forest. His ban will also cover the League Cup semi-final first leg at Chelsea on January 10 and next weekend’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth.
Wenger was asked about his controversial comments during a press conference yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s match at the City Ground. “I maintain what I said in the press conference (after the Chelsea game) — 100 per cent. I have nothing to change in that,” said the Gunners boss.
“I’ve been in England for 21 years and I try to serve this game with honesty and integrity and when I have something to say I will say it. On that front, nothing will change, never.”
Wenger compares George Weah’s life to film script
Meanwhile, Wenger has compared the life of George Weah to a film script following his former player’s election as president of Liberia. Weah, who played for Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan during a glittering career, last week secured a stunning run-off victory in the West African country’s first democratic transfer of power in decades.
Idolised in Liberia as “Mister George”, Weah, 51, is to be sworn in on January 22, replacing Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who in 2006 took the helm of the nation first founded for freed US slaves. Arsenal boss Wenger has been invited to Weah’s inauguration but expects to be too busy to attend.
Wenger signed Weah in 1988 when he was manager of Monaco, guiding his career for the next four years, and views the 1995 FIFA world player of the year as a shining example to the rest of the game. “I have been invited by George to come to the day where he will be president. I believe I will be busy. Maybe if I’m suspended I’ll have time to go,” Wenger joked.
Although he was handed a three-game touchline ban yesterday, Wenger will be back pitch-side by mid-January. “What’s important is when you look at his life, and I think the life of this guy is a real film, it’s unbelievable. You can make a fantastic film.
“I remember when I saw him for the first time in Monaco, coming in a bit lost, not knowing anybody, not being rated by anybody as a player and after, in 1995, becoming the best player in the world. “Now he’s president of his country — it’s an unbelievable story. But it’s down to the fact that one thing that was common in George’s attitude is being strong mentally, absolutely unbelievably convinced that he has a mission.”
Wenger said Weah, who entered politics in 2002, suffered for his country and showed care for other people.