Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent Regulatory Commission after facing charges from the Football Association for his post-match rant against refereeing standards following the Gunners’ 1-0 loss to Newcastle on November 4.
Arteta was highly critical of the officiating, particularly questioning the legitimacy of Anthony Gordon’s winning goal, which he deemed “embarrassing” and a “disgrace.” The FA charged him for breaching Rule E3.1, which could have resulted in a ban or hefty fine.
The Commission found the charge to be “not proven,” stating that Arteta’s comments did not constitute misconduct insulting towards match officials. Arteta, expressing his intent to continue speaking out against poor refereeing, clarified that his use of the term “disgrace” was not meant to convey contempt or disrespect.
While Arteta served a one-match ban during Arsenal’s recent defeat to Aston Villa, he is set to return to the technical area for the upcoming clash against Brighton. The incident has reignited discussions on managerial scrutiny of refereeing decisions and the fine line between criticism and misconduct in football.
