Written by Jonathan Chong on Friday, August 28, 2009

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
26 Aug	7:45 PM	CL	Celtic (H)	3	1	Win

In a very determined and passionate pre-match press conference today, manager Arsène Wenger condemned the decision by UEFA to charge Eduardo with 'intent to deceive a match official', and pledged to defend the player all the way.

The Frenchman also promised to prove that contact was made in the penalty area that caused the Brazilian to tumble in the box, winning the penalty that opened the scoring against Celtic on Wednesday.

The full transcript of Wenger's press conference, is below. The important parts are in bold for emphasis.

"The decision is a complete disgrace! It is not acceptable and we will not accept the way UEFA have treated this case for two reasons. You can debate whether it was penalty or not.

"This charge implies that Eduardo intended and did act to deceive the referee and having seen again the pictures nothing is conclusive on that. It singles out a player in Europe to be a cheat and that is not acceptable... UEFA has taken an action that is not defendable.

"This is the first time that I've been in football that the situation has been judged and assessed by the referee but is not accepted by the football bodies, first time! A situation that has been assessed and judged by the referee cannot be touched again so they open a door here that means every single decision made by a referee and seen by a referee can be challenged. That is a very dangerous door.

"I am not disappointed with the SFA but this is a witch-hunt. There was a touch. It was one thing to say whether it was a penalty or not – I am the first to say it doesn't look obvious at all to be a penalty – but it is another thing to judge that with intent he did go down, I wish you good luck to prove that (with smile). To single a player out like that who has come back from such an injury, hit like he has been, for going down I don't blame him (given the leg break) for getting out of the way of the goalkeeper.

"It is funny in football you can break the legs of players and it doesn't make a debate for anybody but this case has been all over the world like Eduardo has killed someone!

"I am quite happy this penalty had no bearing on the outcome, we were 2-0 up, we would have won this game at home anyway. We have been victim of many dives from some players in England, who were English, which were never treated like that. You have to answer a case as well - the media and the press to treat every case the same.

"We will defend the charge, we will defend our player as far as we can. The man has not been treated fairly and the existing rules of football have been completely changed just for that case. We will from now on challenge every single decision that is made in Europe by the referees.

"The referees need help. How many times have I asked for video evidence to be used but UEFA refuses yet they bring out video evidence to charge our player. Where is the logic? Again it is something quite surprising – they deny completely video evidence but with our player they are using video evidence.

"Do we charge every defender who pulls the shirt of a striker – it is illegal but yet they are not charged.

"The match referee has said that he's reviewed the incident and still think it was the correct one. Look at the rules of a penalty, there does not need to be intent from the goalkeeper (for one to be given).

"This charge opens the possibility of every decision by a referee being disputed by the football clubs.

"I think we need to fight against diving but the best way as we have said before is to have video evidence - when we make this decision on the pitch, at the time, not afterwards, is it a penalty or not? Why not use the video evidence straight away and save us weeks of incidents and embarrassments.

"We will argue with it. There is complete lack of knowledge in this case. Firstly, people have reacted emotionally, secondly the case has been ruled by the media and also thirdly driven by the emotions of Scotland and the SFA – why? – because of the Scottish influence in UEFA, those who are working at UEFA from Scotland who think this case is a bit more sensitive."

Ultimately, the manager is right that UEFA have completely overruled the decision of a match referee and reverted instead to video evidence. Whilst as Arsenal fans we do not condone diving, it's a bit difficult to understand the level of controversy and attention this is getting.

In a week when football in England has been marred by hooliganism, we are instead focusing on a penalty that had no bearing on the outcome of the match at all.

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