Mikel Arteta Found Not Guilty of Breaching FA Rule E3.1

The Arsenal head coach's comments criticizing the VAR system were deemed not detrimental to the game, according to the FA's independent regulatory commission.

Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal head coach, was found not guilty of breaching FA Rule E3.1, which pertains to comments that are 'insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or bring the game into disrepute'.
The charge was related to Arteta's comments following a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United, where he criticized the decision to award Anthony Gordon's goal and called it an 'absolute disgrace'.
The FA's independent regulatory commission found that Arteta's comments were directed at the perceived inadequacies of the VAR system, not at the match officials themselves.
Arteta's defense included past cases involving Jose Mourinho and Neymar, who criticized standards and decisions without being found in disrepute.
The regulatory commission concluded that Arteta's comments did not bring the game into disrepute, as they were rooted in a desire to improve the system.