Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Wenger ref fury revealed
ARSENE Wenger barged into the officials’ dressing-room after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at West Brom and called referee Mike Dean “not honest” and “a disgrace”, the Football Association has revealed.
The Arsenal manager was angered by Dean’s decision to give West Brom a late penalty when the official adjudged Calum Chambers to have handled Kieran Gibbs’ cross in the New Year’s Eve clash.
A independent disciplinary hearing on January 5 gave Wenger a three-game touchline ban and £40,000 fine for the incident.
According to Dean’s “extraordinary incident report”, Wenger tried to follow the officials into their dressing-room after the game and told a West Brom steward to “let me in”.
Dean wrote: “He was very aggressive leaning towards me, pointing aggressively at me saying ‘you’re not honest’ on numerous occasions.
“I replied ‘so you’re calling me a cheat’. He replied ‘I maintain what I say, you’re not honest’.
“He then said ‘you’ve done this to us many times before, you’re supposed to be professional, you’re a disgrace’.”
Dean concluded by saying the 68-year-old Frenchman was ushered out of the room by West Brom’s “safety officer”.
Assistants Simon Long and Ian Hussin and fourth official Christopher Kavanagh filed almost identical reports, with all three describing Wenger’s behaviour as “aggressive”.
The panel, chaired by ex-Everton midfielder Gareth Farrelly, noted this was the second such case involving Wenger in a year. The Gunners boss was given a four-game ban and £25,000 fine for an altercation against Burnley last January.