• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Mikel Arteta takes on national newspaper reporter in heated debate over referees abuse campaign

Home> Football> Football News> Arsenal

Published 22:30 24 Nov 2023 GMT

Mikel Arteta takes on national newspaper reporter in heated debate over referees abuse campaign

Arteta was speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Brentford.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Mikel Arteta has gone back and forth with a national newspaper reporter after seeing his picture used in a campaign to stop abuse towards referees.

The Arsenal manager was charged for comments he made following a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United earlier this month.

Anthony Gordon's second-half winner was surrounded by controversy after being allowed to stand despite three separate VAR checks.

Advert

A seething Arteta called the decision to award a goal 'embarrassing' and 'an absolute disgrace' in his post-match press conference.

Earlier this week, the Daily Mail set up a 'Stop Abusing Referees' campaign. The publication claims it's a way to 'support' officials and 'spotlight bad behaviour' and called out Arteta for 'shameful antics' this season.

He was asked about the campaign during his pre-match press conference for Saturday evening's trip to Brentford. Arteta revealed he's seen the campaign and how prominently he's featured.

Advert

Despite that, the Spaniard is refusing to change his ways and even took his inclusion as a positive.

He said: "I saw the article, I saw the campaign and I saw my picture but I took it as a compliment.

Arteta in discussion with fourth official Graham Scott during the Newcastle game. (Image
Getty)

"Because I’ve been here 20 years and I have supported the league, the players, the referees and I have promoted the game always in the best possible manner.

Advert

"And I expect that if we want to continue to do that, you have to give your opinion you know?

"And I have given hundreds of opinions but if you want to isolate one moment to talk about something that I believe and use it in a different way, I don’t think that’s fair.

"We live the game you know with emotion. I react when a player scores a goal, yeah? I react when a player gives the ball away, yeah?

"I react to the physio when he wants to fly on the pitch to give treatment and I’m saying no! We are constantly reacting, this is the game. We live in a game that is passionate you know and we play to win and it has to happen and you have to react.

Advert

"If not, I sit down here in the theatre, be on mute and let’s see if this league and this game is that interesting. It won’t. That’s what makes it special, in a very respectful way? Yes, for sure."

Arteta's previously been criticised for his touchline antics by polarising beIN SPORTS anchor Richard Keys.

Arteta in Arsenal training. (Image
Getty)

The reporter in the presser then appeared to take issue with Arteta's comments, asking if the 41-year-old was trying to claim changing your behaviour is 'impossible'.

Advert

Arteta replied: "No, it isn’t but we have to say what does that mean? What does that mean to improve it?"

The reporter then fired back with a remark of: "Show more respect?"

With tensions escalating, Arteta furiously responded: "How?! It’s like an onion, we’re talking really superficial.

"We have to go to the bottom of it, what do we expect from each other?

"This is good behaviour, this is going to help, we do it.

"If they tell me these three things are going to help, believe me I will try my best to help, for sure.

"But we have to be detailed, don’t talk globally about one situation one day, three months later because you know we have to go through the history of what we all say how we all behave because I can behave really good now because of three years ago."

Featured Image Credit: Hayters

Topics: Mikel Arteta, Arsenal

Daniel Marland
Daniel Marland

Daniel is a social editor for SPORTbible after moving from the writing team. Nearly scored past Stormzy at Old Trafford once.

X

@DanMarland_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    FIFA has banned five football kits for life that you'll never see again

    Club World Cup finalists Chelsea and PSG have been hit by FIFA’s ban on sleeve advertising rule

    Football
  • 7 hours ago

    Xabi Alonso has found the next Florian Wirtz for Real Madrid without spending anything

    The new Real Madrid boss may have uncovered a gem in the squad who could be the next Florian Wirtz.

    Football
  • 8 hours ago

    Chelsea set their asking price for Nicolas Jackson as shock club register interest and it looks like a typo

    Enzo Maresca has named his price to sell Nicolas Jackson this summer, amid links to a European giant.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Rodrygo has already told Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea which club he wants to play for next season

    The Brazilian star has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid this summer.

    Football
  • Ex-Man Utd star who was 'knocked out by Roy Keane' after defeat now set to join Mikel Arteta at Arsenal
  • Arsenal set to launch move for €75m star as Mikel Arteta finally takes action after Aston Villa draw
  • Mikel Arteta ready to 'axe' seven first-team stars in brutal Arsenal summer overhaul
  • Mikel Arteta set to cause worldwide football rule change as IFAB introduce two new laws