David Moyes said Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas should have been sent off for his “disgusting” comments about the officials during the Gunners 2-1 win over Everton in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Everton led 1-0 at half time at the Emirates Stadium thanks to a Louis Saha goal that Toffees manager Moyes readily conceded was offside.
Arsenal reacted furiously when the goal was given by referee Lee Mason, following consultation with a linesman, and Moyes said Spain international Fabregas was lucky to play the second half after letting fly at the interval.
“I think what happened at half time in the tunnel was the worst,” Everton boss Moyes told Sky Sports.
“Cesc Fabregas should have been sent off for his comments about the officials coming out of the tunnel. It was disgusting. I won’t be repeating it but maybe someone will for you. Fabregas’s comments were deserving of a sending-off.”
“I think it [Saha’s goal] was offside, the wrong decision, but it was not Everton who made the decision. I also thought there were some really bad tackles.
“But Fabregas’ comments to the officials when he was coming down the tunnel warranted a sending off, a hundred percent.
“They were disappointing comments from someone who is such a talented footballer. If you had said it on the pitch, you should have been off like that, so what is the difference when you are coming down the tunnel? We heard it, but that should not be the talking point.”
However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger defended Fabregas by saying: “I was next to Cesc Fabregas at half time. I don’t see why you can be furious with him. I talked to the referee and that was in a polite and calm way, you can ask the referee.
“He didn’t speak to the referee, Cesc Fabregas, at half time; I spoke to the referee. If you have the film, you can check. I spoke to the referee,” Wenger insisted.
Goals after the break from Andrey Arshavin and Laurent Koscielny eventually saw second-placed Arsenal to a victory that left the Gunners five points behind leaders Manchester United. — Sapa-AFP