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Mikel Arteta Cleared Of FA Charge After Newcastle Defeat Comments
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, has been cleared by an independent Regulatory Commission after facing an FA charge for his comments following Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle.
His criticism of the decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s winning goal sparked controversy but has resulted in Arteta being absolved of the misconduct charge.
The FA charged Arteta under rule E3.1, alleging that his comments were insulting towards match officials and detrimental to the game.
However, the independent Regulatory Commission found the charge unproven.
The focus of contention surrounded three aspects of the goal: whether the ball was out of play if Joelinton fouled Gabriel in the buildup and Gordon’s potential offside. Arteta’s objections mainly centred on the foul on Gabriel and the out-of-play situation.
The Commission’s written reasons clarified several points:
- Arteta’s use of the word ‘disgrace’ in Spanish, ‘desgracia,’ conveys a different meaning than its English equivalent, emphasizing misfortune rather than contempt or disrespect.
- Arteta actively worked to improve VAR standards, attending meetings that proved unproductive in enhancing the technology’s efficiency.
- Joe Willock, previously under Arteta’s management, informed Arsenal players that the ball had indeed gone out of play.
The FA will not appeal the Commission’s decision, acknowledging that the deadline for an appeal has elapsed. However, the FA expressed concern regarding Arteta’s post-match remarks, emphasizing the language used in three separate interviews.
Arteta clarified the lost-in-translation element between the Spanish ‘desgracia’ and the English ‘disgrace,’ explaining that his intention was not to convey disrespect or contempt.
Despite Arteta’s efforts to aid the PGMOL and referee standards, the desired improvements did not materialize, further adding weight to his frustration.
Arteta’s scrutiny of the incident intensified after reviewing footage and receiving confirmation from Willock about the ball being out of play, which compounded his sense of injustice before the interviews.
The Commission’s decision signifies Arteta’s exoneration from the misconduct charge, highlighting the nuanced difference in language interpretation and emphasizing his efforts to contribute positively to refereeing standards.
