Wenger - I won't appeal

Gunners boss was sent to stands in Sevilla clash

By James Dall   Last updated: 29th November 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger - I won't appeal

Wenger: Surprised at decision

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he does not plan to appeal against his one-game touchline ban.

The Frenchman was sent to the stands during Tuesday's 3-1 UEFA Champions League loss to Sevilla.

The offence carries an automatic one-match suspension and will also deny Wenger access to the dressing room for Arsenal's final group H encounter against Steaua Bucharest.

Uefa are set to analyse the incident in a meeting on 13th December, in a bid to deem whether Wenger's actions warrant an increased ban.

The Gunners manager confirmed that he will not appeal, while insisting that he would be largely disappointed if Uefa chose to extend the ban.

No angel

"No, I am not appealing against this," Wenger said.

"But I think that if I was to be banned for more than one game, it would be unfair. I was surprised to be sent off."

Wenger went on to explain the sequence of events that led to his disagreement with referee Eric Braamhaar.

"I am not saying I am an angel on the touchline, but I have done much worse than what I did on Tuesday night," he added.

"I am like everybody, sometimes there are periods when I am nervous and explode a bit quicker, but overall I try to control it.

Surprised

"At the end of the day I know what I have done, and I know I have not done a lot.

"It's like if the speed limit is 60mph, sometimes you are not caught when you drive 70mph and sometimes you are caught when you drive 61. I drove 60 and a half.

"I was surprised that I was sent off for what I said.

"I said [to the fourth official] it was naive to give [Sevilla captain Daniel] Alves time to waste that time. I said 'I bet with you he will sprint in two minutes'. It was less than two minutes."