By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – UEFA has formally opened disciplinary proceedings against Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for allegedly breaching the terms of his Champions League touchline ban during this week’s qualifying tie against Udinese.
Wenger was supposed to be serving a one-match sanction carried over from last season yet was claimed to be caught passing messages to his team via a third party during Tuesday’s unconvincing 1-0 first leg win over the Italian side.
A statement on UEFA’s official website read: “Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger for not abiding by the decisions of the UEFA control and disciplinary body in relation to the one-match suspension he served during Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League play-off game against Udinese.”
Arsenal insist they will forcefully fight Wenger’s case when the disciplinary hearing is held on Monday (August 22), saying Wenger thought he could pass messages to assistant Pat Rice via another coach, but that he was told at half-time this was not allowed.
European football’s governing body added: “According to the UEFA disciplinary regulations, a manager may not communicate with his team during the match for which he is suspended and may follow the game from the stands only.
“Wenger was serving the suspension which the UEFA control and disciplinary body handed down following the English team’s round of 16 match at FC Barcelona in the same competition last season.”
Within hours of disciplinary proceedings being opened, Wenger said he was surprised at UEFA’s action.
“I am completely surprised, but we are completely open to any enquiry from UEFA.
“We have nothing to hide and I don’t think we have done anything wrong.
“It is a little bit [frustrating].
“Frankly, you never know what a manager’s ban is.
“I did not communicate with the bench.
“I watched the game from the directors’ box and that was quite enjoyable – if they want to make an enquiry, we have nothing against that.
“They gave us the rules and we observed, strictly, what they told us.”
Wenger is likely to receive a fine if found guilty, rather than face another ban.
But he continued to protest his innocence.
“The rules were not really clear – we tried to get them from UEFA before the game and we behaved according to what they told us,” he said.
The development could not have come at a more awkward time for Wenger who is facing unprecedented pressure after finishing fourth last season and having won nothing for six years.
Talisman Cesc Fabregas has just been sold to Barcelona, ending a long-running saga, while Samir Nasri appears on the verge of a move to Manchester City.
Uncharacteristically, Wenger snubbed the routine post-match press conference after the Udinese game, arguing his one-match suspension also prevented him from conducting media duties.
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