Mikel Arteta receives verdict on appeal against FA misconduct ban

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Arsenal’s loss to Newcastle, marked by a disputed goal from Anthony Gordon, led Mikel Arteta to strongly criticize the decision in post-match interviews, using terms like “disgrace” and “embarrassing.”

Despite being charged, the FA, after a hearing, dropped the case with no ban or punishment, stating that the alleged breach of FA Rule E3.1 was not proven.

The charge was related to comments deemed insulting to match officials and potentially detrimental to the game’s reputation.

The decision was supported by PGMOL chief Howard Webb in a public conversation with the referee and VAR.

In the detailed explanation, Arteta’s impressive testimony played a key role in the ruling that his comments did not insult match officials, nor did they bring the game into disrepute or harm its best interests.

The defense highlighted weaknesses in the VAR system, as acknowledged by the Premier League after the Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur match in September.

Arteta’s case drew parallels with two past instances—FA vs. Jose Mourinho in 2014 and Neymar and PSG vs. UEFA in 2020—where criticizing refereeing decisions was considered within acceptable limits.

The latter emphasized the importance of discussing match-deciding decisions, even with heightened emotions.

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