While Mikel Arteta was charged by the FA due to comments made after Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United earlier this month, Magpies’ boss Eddie Howe is simultaneously calling for harsher punishments to be meted out to recalcitrant managers.
Eddie Howe has claimed that managers should be punished more severely for abusing Premier League referees. The comments come while Mikel Arteta awaits a verdict after being charged by the FA earlier this month. Newcastle United beat Arsenal 1-0 at St. James’ Park on November 4 after a controversial goal which required three separate VAR checks.
Gunners’ boss Arteta unleashed a fiery tirade on top-flight officials as being “embarrassing” and “a disgrace” to English football in his post-match press conference, which subsequently resulted in him being charged although punishment is yet to be meted out to him.
Speaking ahead of the Magpies’ clash against Chelsea, Howe highlighted the emotion and pressure managers are under, but reluctantly admitted stricter punishments are the only remedy going forward. He told reporters: “If you asked every manager, in the cold light of day, we don’t want to see the abuse of referees. We want to see a game that has the referee held in respect and treated accordingly.
“The other side of that is the emotion and the pressure. The situations we’re put in as managers are extreme and, sometimes, you see reactions, but that is based on emotion.
“If you interview managers two or three days later, you would never get the outburst you get. I feel exactly the same as every other manager, when you are emotional or frustrated immediately after a game, it is so difficult to stay calm.
“But I do think it’s something we all need to work together on, to try and improve the image of the game, for everyone who is watching the product. I would love to see that improved globally.
“I think restrictions being brought in and punishments being more severe is the only way to go to try and improve that. I do think there is a willingness from everyone in the game to do that, I don’t see the opposite. It’s just creating the culture that we need to.”