Source: Team_Talk
FA wrong not to punish Wenger over lies
Arsene Wenger avoided punishment for his recent comments on Ryan Shawcross but Mark Holmes feels it is time the Frenchman was brought to book.[LNB] Arsene Wenger is an extremely intelligent man and his comments ahead of Arsenal's game at Blackburn two weekends ago were undoubtedly designed to put pressure on referee Chris Foy.[LNB]Foy had taken charge of Stoke's game against Tottenham the week before in which Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was given a difficult afternoon by the Potters, who packed the Brazilian's penalty area with their numerous six footers.[LNB]After that game, and prior to Arsenal's at Blackburn, Wenger said: "I saw some pictures last Sunday; you cannot say any more it is football, it is rugby on the goalkeepers [more] than football. [LNB]"The referees cannot go on and accept that. [LNB]"When you see how [Stoke defender Ryan] Shawcross kicked Gomes, how [Robert] Huth pushed Gomes in the goal, you cannot say that is football any more."[LNB]Stoke took umbrage at his comments and complained to Arsenal - the Gunners removed Wenger's quotes from their website - as well as the Premier League and the Football Association. [LNB]It is unknown exactly what Stoke complained about, but one would presume it was Wenger's mention of Shawcross, who at no point kicked Gomes. That is not an opinion, it is a fact and I challenge anyone to present me with video evidence to the contrary.[LNB]Wenger has clearly not forgiven Shawcross for the challenge that led to Aaron Ramsey's broken leg back in February but it is surprising he was allowed to lie about the defender without hearing from the FA.[LNB]You wouldn't expect Shawcross to be on Wenger's Christmas card list but to re-open a dispute over six months old shows a lack of professionalism, class and dignity from the Frenchman.[LNB]He does not have to like Shawcross and he does not even have to forgive or change his opinion of him, but he should allow the 22-year-old to repair his reputation in the way Arsenal have repaired theirs.[LNB]Enough lies have already been spread about Shawcross in any case, most notably the ones that state he broke the ankle of Francis Jeffers in 2007 (Jeffers suffered no break) and put Emmanuel Adebayor out for months with in 2008 (Adebayor was back in Premier League action 14 days after a tackle from Shawcross).[LNB]Shawcross does not need sympathy but he certainly does not deserve to be lied about and it is wrong that Wenger or any other manager should be allowed to falsely besmirch the name of a professional without being punished.[LNB]Wenger has been reprimanded for similar comments in the past - in 2004 he was handed a record £15,000 fine by the FA for calling Ruud van Nistelrooy a cheat - but he has stated in the past that no-one will stop him from 'saying what he thinks' so it is no surprise he continues to upset other clubs and managers.[LNB]Jose Mourinho once accused the Arsenal boss of being a "voyeur" that talks about clubs too much - and plenty of today's Premier League managers would agree.[LNB]In September of last year Wenger accused Manchester United of "anti-football" in their win over Arsenal and Darren Fletcher, pinpointed in all but name, said two months later that he felt the 60-year-old's comments were "beginning to influence referees".[LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson said he did not believe Wenger "really believes" what he said about Fletcher but, as stated in the opening line, the Frenchman is an extremely intelligent man that makes comments designed to help his club and hinder others'.[LNB]Unfortunately Wenger's desire to protect Arsenal can lead him open to accusations of hypocrisy. Sam Allardyce recently pointed out that the Gunners used to be "the dirtiest team" (they finished bottom of the Premier League Fair Play table - the same year they won the Double) but Wenger's response to that is that many of his side's red cards "were a reaction to provocation."[LNB]However, back in February 2002 after Oleg Luzhny had picked up Arsenal's eleventh red card in 37 matches that season, Wenger said: "When I watch a Serie A game I'm bored after five minutes, if you want totally clean football you'll get bored."[LNB]Then, two seasons ago he labelled Stoke's players cowards with "the intention to hurt" after a 2-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium. [LNB]The only red card that day was shown to his own Robin van Persie for shoulder-barging Thomas Sorensen over the line with the ball in his hands but the reaction from Wenger, a man apparently keen to see goalkeepers protected, was that Sorensen over-reacted.[LNB]The Frenchman escaped punishment for his comments then and has done several times since but he is a proven voyeur, a proven hypocrite and now a proven liar. He must never be allowed to get away with it again.
