Arteta expected to escape punishment over ref rant – after branded 'Mercedes version of Warnock'
Mikel Arteta is expected to escape a ban for his rant on referees despite being branded a “Mercedes version of Neil Warnock” over his touchline behaviour.
The Arsenal manager called Anthony Gordon’s match-winning goal for Newcastle United an “absolute disgrace” after his side’s 1-0 defeat on Saturday, saying it was “embarrassing” and that he felt “ashamed” by the level of officiating.
Arsenal then took the highly unusual step of issuing a statement in which they “wholeheartedly” backed Mikel Arteta’s post match comments “after yet more unacceptable refereeing and Var errors”.
That intervention was labelled “embarrassing” on Monday by Ref Support UK, a charity which represents referees, who also said that the behaviour of managers like Arteta directly influences a culture of abuse in grassroots football.
The Football Association has been considering the various comments and while no definite decision had been reached on Monday night, the remarks do not appear to have clearly breached rules over questioning either the integrity of officials or making an excessively personalised attack.
Gordon’s goal was allowed to stand following a long check by the Var into three potential issues and Arteta was not specific about which element of the goal – or decision-making – that had made him so angry.
He did, however, strike a noticeably different tone when a clear Var mistake contributed to Liverpool’s defeat against Tottenham earlier in the season. “At some point as well we need to give support and understand that mistakes happen,” said Arteta regarding the chaos over Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal. “We’ve made mistakes as well and if the pressure is so much then it’s very difficult to manage.”
Arsenal are adamant that Sunday’s statement was in response to a series of mistakes and controversies across the Premier League, rather than specifically just Saturday’s Newcastle game. They received an acknowledgment of mistakes last season from the PGMOL, the body responsible for referees, after dropping five points in a defeat to Manchester United and then a draw against Brentford. They were also angry that the perceived time-wasting tactics of Newcastle were not prevented during a goalless draw at the Emirates in January.
Arsenal have been in ongoing dialogue with the PGMOL over officiating and as well as conveying a message of support to Arteta and the players, regard their statement as an urgent attempt to reduce the number of mistakes across the league.
Arsenal’s official intervention follows Liverpool’s club statement last month after a Diaz goal was wrongly disallowed against Tottenham. Liverpool warned they would “explore the range of options available” and outlined a “clear need for escalation and resolution”. Manager Jurgen Klopp even called for the match to be replayed.
The touchline attitude of Klopp and Arteta towards match officials has long been of particular concern to grassroots referees.
‘Arteta’s behaviour worst in the Premier League’
“I was pleased they recognised the difficult task Howard Webb [the head of the PGMOL] has in front of him in their statement but this trend of clubs making statements is very embarrassing,” said Martin Cassidy, the chief executive of Ref Support UK.
“They would have more credibility if they addressed and made a public statement about the unacceptable behaviour of their players or manager.
“Mikel Arteta’s touchline behaviour is the worst in the Premier League and his behaviour is a large part of the problem in football. He has become a Mercedes version of Neil Warnock. His behaviour and comments, that now appear to be supported by Arsenal as a club, is very worrying for me and the game in general. This statement [by Arsenal], in my opinion, is nothing other than an infantile moan.”
Cassidy’s charity receives weekly reports of abusive touchline behaviour at grassroots, often towards officials who are under the age of 18 and then turn their back on becoming referees.
“This behaviour is replicated at grassroots youth football and yet again this weekend we have had parents of young referees telling us that they have been threatened and verbally abused by coaches in the youth game who are using the same verbal terms, behaviours and comments they are shown on TV,” said Cassidy.
