Wenger stung by FA ban

ARSENE WENGER has been given a three-game touchline ban and £40,000 fine after his bust-up with referee Mike Dean.

The Arsenal boss admitted a misconduct charge at an FA hearing and will miss tomorrow’s FA Cup tie with Nottingham Forest, Wednesday’s League Cup clash with Chelsea and the Premier League trip to Bournemouth.

It is understood that Wenger was punished for following Dean up the tunnel at West Brom after a controversial late penalty award and storming into the officials’ dressing room where he swore and angrily accused the referee of bias.

But managers are not allowed in the referees’ dressing room within a 30 minute “cooling off” period after the game.

Wenger got a four-game touchline ban last season after pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor – and as it was less than 12 months ago that was taken into account. But this latest offence was deemed less serious than the last one.

The FA said: “The

Arsenal manager admitted his language and behaviour in the match officials’ changing room after the West Brom game was abusive, improper and questioned the integrity of the match referee.”

Wenger can travel with the team to Arsenal’s next three games and deliver a team talk, but will then watch from the stands.

They won two and lost two of the four games he was banned for last season.

He is also in trouble over post-match comments following the draw with Chelsea on Wednesday when Eden Hazard won a controversial penalty.

Wenger said yesterday: “I think it was a yellow card for Hazard, 100 per cent. I have a right to my opinion.”