Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks on ahead of Champions League final vs Paris St Germain
UEFA have made a decision on whether to punish Arsenal after the Gunners broke a ‘little-known’ rule ahead of their Champions League opener on Wednesday night.
Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping to go one step further than last season by winning their first-ever major European honour, after ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title but falling at the final hurdle on the continent against PSG.
Their first match of the new season comes this week against Napoli, whose recent success under Antonio Conte makes them a potential banana-skin opponent for the north Londoners.
And to complicate matters, Arsenal have been subject to UEFA scrutiny following their actions ahead of the scheduled pre-match press conferences on Tuesday evening, leaving them facing the possibility of a hefty fine.
Why Arsenal Face Possible UEFA Punishment Ahead of Napoli Opener
REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Arsenal's potential punishment stems from the fact they suddenly cancelled their pre-match press conferences, where boss Arteta and one other player would have faced the media.
The squad had been delayed in taking off due to a technical fault affecting air traffic control systems at multiple UK airports, including London Heathrow, London Stansted and London Gatwick. As a result, Arteta was unable to make his scheduled time, which typically carries a financial punishment.
champions league trophy
champions league trophy
As per the Daily Express, the UEFA guidelines state: "Clubs may only change their MD-1 plans on account of force majeure and with the agreement of UEFA."
Airports nationwide are experiencing difficulties, with Flightradar24 indicating that 10 UK airports have suffered disruption. Manchester, Birmingham, and the East Midlands are amongst the others encountering delays.
UEFA's Decision Now Confirmed
REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
But having explained that the circumstances were out of the club's control, Arsenal have avoided a fine, it can be confirmed. National Air Traffic Services (NATS) confirmed at 1.46pm that it was examining a technical issue. NATS apologised for the delays and advised passengers to verify the status of their flight with their airline, with additional updates expected.
Arsenal's itinerary had them training at their usual base, the Sobha Realty Training Centre, to complete their pre-match preparations, with a flight to Italy scheduled for later that day. The Gunners will now touch down in Napoli behind schedule ahead of tomorrow's European campaign opener.