Ex-EPL referee calls for Arteta to face severe punishments

Former Premier League referee Peter Walton believes Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should face severe punishments in the wake of the attack on Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler.

All professional football games in Turkey have been suspended after Meler was recently punched in the face by Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca after a Turkish Super Lig game on Monday evening.

Arteta, meanwhile, served a touchline ban for Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa last Saturday after receiving his third yellow card of the season for leaving the technical area to celebrate Declan Rice’s winner against Luton Town last Tuesday.

However, Walton believes Premier League managers should be handed bigger punishments, including points deductions and longer bans for failing to respect match officials.

“I look at Arteta serving a touchline ban the other day – all he has to do is sit up in the stands instead, shaking hands with everyone. Is that enough of a punishment? I don’t think it is,” Walton told The Times.

“We need longer bans, points deductions, managers should not be allowed to come to the stadium on match days.

“These sorts of deterrents send a message, that any form of abuse to officials is wrong and will not be tolerated.”