Wenger: Persistent fouling is worse than diving

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
29 Aug	5:15 PM	P	Manchester United (A)	1	2	Lost

Manager Arsène Wenger has continued his war of words with the Football Association, now insisting that persistent fouling is worse than 'simulation' or attempts to 'deceive the match officials'.

Wenger pointed out that there were specific players in the Manchester United team who are instructed to not do anything but foul Arsenal players, to see how far the referee would allow them to go. It seems that they could go as far as they want, as those players were not booked in the match at all.

Whilst only three United players went into the referee's book, SIX Arsenal players were not given the same amount of leniency. The Gunners now face a fine from the Football Association for failing to control their players during the match.

Wenger said: "I have seen a player make 20 fouls without getting a yellow card. If you have seen the game, you don't need me to tell you who but their player gets away without a yellow card. It's quite amazing.

"I have seen today a player [Eduardo] who plays only on the pitch, but there are other points that for me are more urgent - players who play only to make fouls, who make repeated fouls and are never punished.

"They get out of the game without a yellow card, but I think it is more anti-football than a player who did what Eduardo did.

"I have seen a player make 20 fouls without getting a yellow card. If you have seen the game, you don't need me to tell you who but their player gets away without a yellow card. It's quite amazing."

United player Michael Carrick committed fouls on Denilson, Emmanuel Eboue and Bacary Sagna. Darren Flectcher conceded free kicks for challenges on Eboue and Alex Song, and also made a tackle on Andrey Arshavin that should have been a penalty, if not for handling the ball with his hand AFTER the tackle.

Neither of these challenges were picked up by the match referees. Wenger said: "I don't know [why they went unpunished]. You should ask the referees. I don't know. Look at how many deliberate fouls some players make and get away with it.

"I think that's a bigger problem because it cuts the flow of the game every time. People come and pay to see football. They do not come to see free-kicks."

User Comments

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea