Mikel Arteta learns outcome of FA misconduct ban appeal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has beaten an FA charge for alleged misconduct for comments he made following his team's defeat to Newcastle last month.

The Gunners lost the game due to a controversial goal from Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon in the second half. Arteta later lambasted the decision for the decisive goal to stand, repeatedly using words such as «disgrace» and «embarrassing» across three post-match interviews.

The Arsenal boss denied the charge brought against him and, following a hearing, the FA issued a statement confirming the case has been dropped with no ban or other punishment.

«An independent Regulatory Commission has found the charge against Mikel Arteta for an alleged breach of FA Rule E3.1 to be not proven,» the governing body explained.

«The manager was charged following various comments in media interviews after Arsenal’s Premier League game against Newcastle United on Saturday 4 November.

»It was alleged that his comments constituted misconduct in that they were insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or brought the game into disrepute."

In the relevant edition of, in which conversations between the referee and VAR are made public, PGMOL chief Howard Webb had been satisfied with the decision and process.

In extensive written reasons, it was noted that Arteta was an «impressive» witness and it was eventually ruled that his comments: «a) Did not insult the Match Officials (or Premier League match officials generally). Nothing was said by MA in any of the Interviews that implies incompetence on their part, whether in relation to the Goal or more generally; b) Did not bring the game into disrepute; c) Were not detrimental to the best interests of the game.»

Weakness in the VAR