Arsene Wenger to watch group finale at distance after touchline ban - 29 Nov 2007
Arsène Wenger will serve the first touchline ban of his career for arguing with a fourth official during the 3-1 defeat by Seville. Uefa has handed out the mandatory one-match punishment after the Arsenal manager was sent off near the end of the Champions League match in Spain on Tuesday.
Wenger will not be allowed to sit on the bench or visit the dressing-room when Arsenal play their final group H match against Steaua Bucharest in two weeks. Arsenal will need to defeat Steaua at the Emirates Stadium and hope that Seville do not win away to Slavia Prague if they are to finish top and gain a probable advantage in the knockout phase.
Wenger remonstrated with Reinold Wiedemeijer, the Dutch fourth official, after being angered by apparent play-acting from Jesús Navas, the Seville winger. Wenger watched the final minutes from the tunnel instead of moving to the stand as he was asked. He has three days to appeal against the decision, from when he is notified of the ban. Wenger could face a further investigation by Uefa if the referee’s report mentions anything untoward. Wenger called the behaviour of Wiedemeijer “shocking”.
Frank Rijkaard, the Barcelona coach, was also sent off during his team’s 2-2 draw with Lyons on Tuesday for confronting Stefano Farina, the referee, and was handed a one-match touchline ban. “Rijkaard went upstairs into the stands after being sent off,” William Gaillard, the Uefa director of communications, said. “That’s the rule. If you are expelled from the technical area, then you have to leave. The case concerning Arsène Wenger will be looked at again, but the rules are quite clear on this.” |