Referee’s Charity Condemns Mikel Arteta’s Comments on Arsenal’s Loss to Newcastle
A leading referee’s charity has expressed its disapproval of Mikel Arteta’s remarks following Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle on Saturday. The Arsenal manager went on a sensational rant during his post-match press conference, claiming that Newcastle’s winning goal should not have been allowed.
Controversy Surrounding the Goal
There were three separate moments of controversy leading up to the goal. Firstly, there was a question of whether the ball had gone out of play when Joe Willock kept it in. Additionally, many Arsenal fans believed that Gabriel was fouled by Joelinton in the build-up. Lastly, there was a tight offside call on Anthony Gordon.
Arteta expressed his embarrassment at the standard of refereeing in the country and labeled the decision to allow Gordon’s goal as an “absolute disgrace.”
Ref Support UK CEO Criticizes Arteta’s Behavior
Martin Cassidy, the CEO of Ref Support UK, criticized Arteta’s behavior and stated that it is a bigger disgrace than the level of refereeing. Cassidy believes that Arsenal would have more credibility if they addressed and publicly condemned the unacceptable behavior of their players or manager.
Cassidy described Arteta’s touchline behavior as the worst in the Premier League and compared him to Neil Warnock. He expressed concern about Arteta’s behavior and comments, which now appear to be supported by Arsenal as a club. Cassidy considers this statement by Arsenal as nothing more than an infantile moan.
Impact on Referee Abuse
Cassidy argues that the behavior of figures like Arteta and Jurgen Klopp on the touchline directly contributes to the rise in referee abuse at grassroots level. The charity highlights that abuse is particularly severe for referees under the age of 18.
Support from Sky Sports Pundits
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, both Sky Sports pundits, also criticized Arteta’s behavior and Arsenal’s subsequent statement. Carragher stated that Arsenal’s complaints about the officials and VAR regarding the Newcastle goal were excessive. Neville echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that managers and players make more mistakes than referees.