Wenger handed three-match ban by UEFA
Reuters - Friday 30 March 2012, 14:00
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's
has been given a three-match ban and fined 40,000 euros for confronting match officials after his side's
Champions League exit against AC Milan this month.
UEFA said on Friday that the Frenchman had been found guilty
of improper conduct at the end of the last 16 second leg which
Arsenal won 3-0 only to bow out 4-3 on aggregate.
"Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has been suspended from
carrying out his function for three UEFA competition matches by
the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body," a statement said.
Wenger, who was previously banned for one match after an
outburst after last year's last-16 exit against Barcelona and
then suspended for another two for breaching that sanction, said
he will appeal.
Speaking at his Friday news conference, just before UEFA
announced the decision, Wenger said: "If I am suspended then it
is not justified and I will appeal straight away.
"I believe that they have transformed UEFA competition
referees to be untouchable icons, where you cannot even have a
word. The only thing they understand after the game is the
report.
"I believe that when you have 25 years consecutively in
Europe you can still ask the referee that you can have some
discussion with him. It is very difficult to understand."