Sports
FA reveal what Arsene Wenger said to Mike Dean to be hit with three-game touchline ban
Arsene Wenger branded Mike Dean a “disgrace” in a remarkable verbal attack on the referee.
Wenger’s rant at the officials after Dean gave West Brom a last gasp penalty last month has been revealed after the Football Association revealed the full written reasons behind his three game touchline ban.
Gunners boss Wenger stormed into the referees’ room straight after the game and “aggressively confronted” Dean who gave a highly controversial penalty against Calum Chambers which led to Arsenal conceding a late equaliser.
Frenchman Wenger, 68, who is nicknamed “Le Professeur”, turned street fighter after blowing his top and was also accused of leaning into Dean and pointing his finger at his chest.
Dean’s account states: “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.’”
Wenger broke FA guidelines of not entering the referees’ room within the 30 minute “cooling off” period after the game.
Incredibly, Wenger stood in the doorway, stopped club stewards from closing the door and shouted: “let me in!”
Eventually, Dean told the stewards to let him in and his account is also backed up by assistant referee Simon Long.
Long’s evidence states: “At the conclusion of the match, we entered our dressing room, immediately followed by Mr Wenger, the manager of Arsenal.
“He stood in the dressing room doorway, preventing the West Bromwich Albion stewards from closing the door, whilst demanding ‘let me in.’
“Mr Wenger took a step inside the dressing room and aggressively confronted the referee, Mr Dean, leaning towards him and continuously jabbing his finger towards his chest whilst repeatedly saying ‘you’re not honest’ in a raised voice.”
Fourth official Christopher Kavanagh added: “As he entered his body language was very aggressive. He started pointing at the Referee and shouting ‘you are not honest’ continuously.”
The FA report confirms that they discussed issuing a stadium ban but took into account that Arsenal admitted the charge, English is not Wenger’s first language and he stressed that he did not mean it to come across as severe as it did.
They initially decided on a four game touchline ban but reduced it to three because Wenger admitted the charge and it was not deemed as serious as his previous offence when he was banned for pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor in January 2017.
Wenger, who earns £8m-a-year, was also given a fine and the FA report concluded: “whilst noting Mr Wenger’s weekly football income, £50,000 was reduced to £40,000.”
