/ 22 August 2011

Wenger dealt two-match European ban

Wenger Dealt Two Match European Ban

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was handed a two-match European ban on Monday for failing to abide by the conditions of a previous suspension against Udinese last week, Uefa said on Monday.

The Uefa’s disciplinary board decision means the Frenchman will not be able to sit on the touchline for Wednesday’s Champions League fourth qualifying round second leg at Udinese. Arsenal lead 1-0 from the first game.

The European football body opened disciplinary charges against Wenger on Friday after he breached the terms of his 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 play-off 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. — Reuters, Sapa-AP