PREMIER LEAGUE and PGMOL chiefs will not respond to Mikel Arteta’s Newcastle rant – until next week.
Arsenal boss Arteta slammed the “embarrassing” officiating in his side’s 1-0 defeat as a “disgrace”, suggesting it brought the Prem into disrepute.
While the Gunners chief questioned the competence of ref Stuart Attwell and the VAR team at Stockley Park over Anthony Gordon’s controversial winner, he did not call their integrity into account.
And while he could yet be charged with misconduct if found to have made a “prolonged” or “unreasonable” complaint, it is more likely that he would be hit with a warning rather than a fine.
Arsenal’s decision to make a public statement in support of Arteta on Sunday ruffled feathers at both Prem headquarters near Paddington and for PGMOL bosses.
Privately there is understood to have been a feeling that the Gunners over-reacted in a determination to show they had Arteta’s back.
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And while Arteta had reason for being unhappy at the crucial decision it is felt he went too far – especially as there was no conclusive proof that the ball was out before being crossed by Joe Willock or that Gordon was offside.
FA disciplinary beaks are expected to confirm whether or not Arteta faces any action on Tuesday after all his post-match comments have been reviewed.
Despite that, Prem bosses and PGMOL head Webb will not make any official comments in response this week.
Webb, though, is certain to give the incident top billing in the next edition of “Match Officials Mik’d Up”, scheduled to be broadcast at the start of next week in the international break.
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The PGMOL boss may agree that Joelinton could have been deemed to have fouled Gabriel in the immediate build-up to the goal, although he will point out it was a subjective decision – and that the on-field ruling of a goal has to have priority unless there is definitive proof of an error.
That view was articulated by former Prem ref Dermot Gallagher, who told Sky Sports News: “The crux of the matter is that it was a subjective decision.
“For me, it’s a push but I’ve spoken to a lot of people and while a lot agreed with me there were as many who didn’t.
“That’s the dilemma. The referee said it wasn’t a foul and the VAR didn’t see enough to over-rule him.”
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