Mikel Arteta avoids FA charge over alleged misconduct
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dodged a bullet after the Football Association (FA) cleared him of wrongdoing regarding his comments after the 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United last month.
The Spanish tactician was charged by the FA for his outburst in the aftermath of the Newcastle defeat where he labelled the decision to award Anthony Gordon’s winning goal “embarrassing” and “a disgrace,” after a VAR check.
Arteta seemed destined to face the music, but an independent investigation concluded that Arteta’s words weren’t enough to attract disciplinary measures as he didn’t breach the FA’s rules.
The FA statement read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has found the charge against Mikel Arteta for an alleged breach of FA Rule E3.1 to be not proven.”
Arteta’s defence hinged on a crucial language barrier where he claimed his use of the word “disgrace” had been misinterpreted. In Spanish, “desgracia” carries a different meaning than the English “disgrace.”
Arteta’s frustration with the Premier League’s refereeing standard has taken its toll this season.
He publicly questioned officiating after contentious calls against Arsenal in the game against Aston Villa, where Gabriel Jesus was denied a penalty after an apparent kick by Douglas Luiz, while Kai Havertz had a late goal chalked off for handball.
After the game, Arteta admitted he had strong opinions on both incidents but refrained from direct criticism. However, his repeated emphasis on “clear and obvious” errors underscored his dissatisfaction.
The Newcastle incident raised questions about the line between passionate criticism and unacceptable conduct.
Arteta insisted in his response to the FA charge that he meant no insult to referee Stuart Attwell in his post-match rant – an explanation welcomed by the panel.
Arteta’s argument in addition to his impressive demeanor during the hearing, convinced the panel he didn’t cross the line.
The Spanish manager would be on the sidelines when the Gunners take on Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend in a bid to reclaim their place at the Premier League summit.
