Thaindian News

London, Aug 31 (ANI): Manchester United has been accused of employing “anti-football” tactics during their 2-1 victory at Old Trafford by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has reopened the hostilities between the two clubs in the new season.

Wenger is to receive an official apology for being banished from the dugout but he remains incensed by the standard of refereeing and his conviction that Sir Alex Ferguson’s players, predominantly Darren Fletcher, were guilty of systematic fouling.

The Old Trafford match in which Arsenal had six players booked, triggered an automatic 25,000 pounds fine from the Football Association, The Guardian reported.

The conduct of Arsenal players was also brought into question by Emmanuel Eboué being shown a yellow card for diving, a day after Eduardo da Silva had been charged by UEFA for “deceiving the referee” for a similar offence.

“There are other points than diving that, for me, are more urgent players who play only to make fouls and who are never punished; players who make repeated fouls and who get out of the game without a yellow card. That, for me, is more anti-football than a player who did what Eduardo did.”

Wenger also accused Ferguson’s players of using similar tactics in the past, most notably saying his team had been kicked off the pitch at Old Trafford during the 2004-05 season. (ANI)