Arsenal news: Ex-Premier League referee verdict on extended ban for ‘clown’ Mikel Arteta as FA take action
Keith Hackett has suggested Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is unlikely to be subject to a touchline ban despite the controversy surrounding his touchline antics.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed the 40-year-old is could receive a letter from the FA warning him about his conduct.
As seen in footage from the Sky Sports Premier League Twitter account (3 January), Arteta wildly gesticulated and confronted the fourth official after Arsenal saw two second-half penalty appeals waved away in their 0-0 draw with Newcastle.
Speaking post-match and quoted by Sky Sports, the Spaniard slammed the “scandalous” decisions by referee Andy Madley.
Writing in his Daily Mail column (4 January), former Blackburn and Celtic striker Chris Sutton branded Arteta a “clown” and accused him of “losing all control”.
Players on the pitch surrounded Madley after a stoppage-time appeal for a spot-kick, which has resulted in Arsenal being charged by the FA for “failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion”.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “This is dependent on where he is in the FA’s disciplinary ladder.
“It could be that he just gets a letter, warning him about his future conduct – or he could get a fine.
“It could well be that he’s not been charged but this is his first offence of this manner.
“I suspect that he will just get a letter from the FA on this occasion.”
Jurgen Klopp was handed a touchline ban for a similar outburst at the linesman during Liverpool’s 1-0 home win over Man City in October.
Klopp initially escaped a ban, before the FA eventually intervened to ensure he sat out his side’s win over Southampton in November.
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