Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings against Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Friday for breaching the terms of his Champions League touchline ban.
Wenger was confined to the stands and banned from communicating with the dugout during the 1-0 victory over Udinese in the first leg of their playoff on Tuesday.
But Wenger passed instructions to assistant Pat Rice through coach Boro Primorac, who sat alongside the manager in the stands.
Wenger, who claimed he had permission from Uefa to give the indirect instructions, was warned by European football’s governing body at halftime that such contact was not allowed. Primorac appeared to continue making phone calls in the second half.
Wenger will now be investigated for “not abiding by the decisions of the Uefa control and disciplinary body”.
“According to the Uefa disciplinary regulations, a manager may not communicate with his team during the match for which he is suspended and may follow the game from the stands only,” Uefa said in a statement.
‘Frustrating’
Arsenal plan to challenge Uefa’s claims when the case is discussed on Monday, two days before the second leg.
“I am completely surprised,” Wenger said. “We have nothing to hide and I don’t think we have done anything wrong. It is a little bit [frustrating]. Frankly, you never know what a manager’s ban is.
“I did not communicate with the bench. I watched the game from the directors’ box and that was quite enjoyable. If they want to make an enquiry, we have nothing against that. They gave us the rules and we observed, strictly, what they told us.”
Wenger received the one-match ban for “improper conduct” after he made critical comments about the referee following last season’s elimination by Barcelona in the last 16 of the competition.
Wenger is critical of Uefa for its apparent lack of clarity with the rules.
“I don’t know why the rules changed from what they told us before,” Wenger said. “I didn’t go to the dressing room, but 15 minutes after the game you can talk to the media. If you cannot go down to the dressing room, you cannot go to the media. The rules were not really clear.”
Wenger could also be sanctioned for failing to fulfil his Uefa commitments by not giving a post-match press conference. — Sapa-AP