Former Premier League referee Graham Poll has called for The Football Association to hand Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a six-match ban.
The Frenchman was charged with improper conduct by The FA on Monday afternoon, after appearing to push fourth official Anthony Taylor on Sunday during the win over Burnley.
Wenger was furious that referee Jonathan Moss had handed the Clarets a stoppage-time penalty and his reaction saw him sent to the stands, before attempting to WATCH the game from tunnel.
When Taylor told the 67-year-old that he was not permitted to wait in the tunnel, Wenger’s push on the official prompted The FA to open up a case against the Arsenal boss.
And Poll believes there is no place in the game for behaviour like that, calling for The FA to throw the book at the Arsenal manager.
“Arsene Wenger should be banned for at least six matches for abusing referee Jon Moss and pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor after his sending off against Burnley,” Poll wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
“In a week when the FA raised the issue of respect towards match officials by publishing John Sheridan’s disgraceful tirade which resulted in a five-match ban, they now have the opportunity to reinforce their support at all levels by correctly dealing with the Premier League’s longest-serving manager.
“Wenger’s outburst can only be explained by the pressure he is under. The incident which caused his meltdown was as obvious a penalty as you could wish to see.
“Those who wish to play down the incident by saying it wasn’t a violent push should go to a local park to witness the treatment referees get.
“The abuse is dreadful and usually laced with threats of physical attacks which all too often come to fruition.”
It remains to be seen what the punishment will be for Wenger, but it is likely the Arsenal boss receives a two or three-game ban.
There was a previous precedent in 2012 when Alan Pardew pushed assistant referee Peter Kirkup and received a two-game touchline ban and a fine of £20,000.
However, the Premier League have since launched a new “zero tolerance” crackdown on abusive touchline behaviour.
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