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Wenger waiting on UEFA ruling

Image: Arsene Wenger: Hit out at the match officials after seeing Arsenal bow out of Europe

Arsene Wenger must wait until Thursday before discovering whether he will be stung with a third UEFA touchline ban in the space of a year.

Gunners boss to learn on Thursday whether he faces sanction

Arsene Wenger must wait until Thursday before discovering whether he will be stung with a third UEFA touchline ban in the space of a year. The Arsenal boss faces possible sanction by European football's governing body following his criticism of referee Damir Skomina in the Gunners' 3-0 victory over AC Milan on Wednesday. The French tactician was involved in an angry confrontation with the Slovenian official after seeing his side bow out of the UEFA Champions League 4-3 on aggregate at the last 16 stage. Wenger claimed the referee awarded too many free-kicks to the Italian visitors, who progressed into the quarter-finals on an enthralling night at Emirates Stadium. UEFA will decide whether to charge Wenger based upon the information received from Skomina's report, which has to be filed within 48 hours of the end of the match. Swift action will be taken if is deemed necessary, but the match report is not expected to be received until later on Wednesday. A UEFA spokesman said: "It will be tomorrow before we know."

Thoughts

Wenger made his thoughts clear on Skomina's performance in his post-match press conference, saying: "I was not happy with the referee tonight because I felt he gave many free-kicks in the middle of the park. "Every time they went down a free-kick was given for them, and they sensed that very quickly and they used it very well." UEFA handed Wenger a one-match touchline ban for an on-field rant at Massimo Busacca following his team's last 16 exit to Barcelona last year. The Arsenal boss was left fuming at the Swiss referee's decision to send off Robin van Persie. Wenger was then handed a further two-match touchline suspension for violating his Barcelona ban by communicating with the Arsenal bench from the stands during the Gunners' play-off tie against Udinese earlier this season.

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