UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for allegedly breaching the terms of his Champions League touchline ban.
Wenger, serving a punishment stemming from last season's Champions League last-16 defeat by Barcelona, was seemingly caught passing messages to his team via a third party during Tuesday's 1-0 win over Udinese in their play-off first leg. Arsenal immediately confirmed that they will argue Wenger's case when the disciplinary is held on Monday.A statement on UEFA's official website read: "Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger for not abiding by the decisions of the UEFA control and disciplinary body in relation to the one-match suspension he served during Tuesday's UEFA Champions League play-off game against Udinese."Wenger claimed UEFA had told him he was permitted to relay instructions to assistant manager Pat Rice through first-team coach Boro Primorac, who was in telephone contact with the Arsenal bench.But European football's governing body denied giving Wenger the green light and have been studying the report from their match officials before deciding whether to take further action.The governing body's statement continued: "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."Wenger was serving the suspension which the UEFA control and disciplinary body handed down following the English team's round of 16 match at FC Barcelona in the same competition last season."Arsenal won the play-off first leg against Udinese 1-0 in north London. The new disciplinary case will be discussed on Monday 22 August.""Big surprise," was Wenger's assessment when asked about the news he would face disciplinary action."But we are completely open to any inquiry from UEFA, we have nothing to hide and I don't think we have done anything wrong," he told a news conference."Frankly you never know really what a manger's ban is. I did not communicate with the bench, I did watch the game from the directors' box and it was quite enjoyable."Wenger, who could now face a new touchline ban depending on the outcome of Monday's hearing, said it was frustrating because the club had asked UEFA before the match for clarification of the rules and he had stuck to them."That's why I'm quite surprised they need an inquiry because they gave us the rules and we observed strictly what they told us," he said.Of course we will (appeal). I don't know why after the game or during the game the rules changed from what they told us before."I didn't go to the dressing room. It looks quite strange because you can only do the part of the rules that are interesting for them. That means 15 minutes after the game you can talk to the media but you cannot go down to the dressing room."
