Arsene Wenger Charged by UEFA: Who Is to Blame for This Happening Again?

For the second straight year, Arsenal have crashed out of the Champions League in the Round of 16.

For the second straight year, Arsene Wenger has landed himself in hot water for his actions following the elimination.

Arsenal's 3-0 win against AC Milan at the Emirates last night was the most valiant of ways to bow out of a competition. Indeed, one more goal would have surely made it the greatest turnaround in Champions League history.

However, Gunners manager Wenger was not satisfied with the result, and instead went after referee Damir Skomina following the game. He then further criticized the official and the state of the pitch in his postmatch interview.

UEFA, football's governing body in Europe, has now decided to charge Wenger for his antics and tirades.

However, who is to blame for Wenger landing in more hot water—the Frenchman or UEFA?

On the one hand, this is the third time in the past year that Wenger has been charged by UEFA.

The first occurrence was almost identical to this one, with Wenger attacking referee Massimo Busacca in his postmatch interview after Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League last season.

A strong argument could be made that Arsene should have known what would happen and thus should have bit his tongue.

On the other hand, it seems like UEFA are being unfairly closed off to criticism.

The idea of punishing managers for attacking referees makes sense in that implications of favoritism or corruption calls into question the dignity of the game.

However, Wenger has not done this in the case of either last year or this year. Rather, he has merely said that he disagreed with the refereeing decisions.

One can see the Frenchman's unhappiness and frustration never gets to the point of claiming corruption or showing disrespect, but merely shows itself as suggestions as to what he thinks could have been improved:

"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.

"It is maybe an easy excuse, but I feel UEFA has a lot to answer for because if you arrive at 7.46pm you get fined, but you can play on a bad pitch and they don't say a word. I just feel it is part of the respect for people who pay their money and go to a football game and expect conditions where you can play football. That's what we try to do here and it is unacceptable for UEFA to accept pitches like the one in Milan."

As to the criticism of the referee, Wenger was surely upset about how his team was called for 21 fouls throughout the match and how the referee failed to control the Milan players from time-wasting tactics.

As I see it, protecting the referee is certainly something that is necessary for UEFA, but they are becoming a bit over-protective.

Why can't a manager express disagreement with a referee's decisions in a respectful way?

These are human beings who are not infallible; differences of opinions must be a part of the game.

However, fair or foul, Arsene Wenger is obviously familiar with the rules for criticizing referees due to his run-in last year; while frustration must have been palpable last night, he should have refrained from commenting.

In the end, blame should be shared amongst both parties.

A change of ways should be imminent for UEFA and Wenger alike.