Arsenal have the worst disciplinary file within the Premier League this season, with their 4 purple playing cards probably the most of any workforce.
Not one of the Arsenal gamers have been reprimanded by the police for his or her actions on the pitch, nonetheless, as occurred to Ian Wright in 1997.
Enjoying towards Coventry in April of the 1996/97 season, Wright scored a first-half penalty to cancel out Dion Dublin’s opener. The Arsenal ahead performed the total 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw at Highfield Highway, however after taking part in up towards Richard Shaw and Paul Williams all recreation, he quickly had one other battle on his fingers – this time with the police.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright handed £15,000 positive
Wright acquired a hefty positive as punishment (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Whereas strolling off the pitch on the finish of the sport, after partaking with the Coventry followers and thanking his personal Arsenal supporters, Wright entered the dressing room solely to be encountered with regulation enforcement.
“I obtained reported after a recreation towards Coventry Metropolis,” Wright recalled whereas talking on the Stick with Soccer podcast, delivered to you by Sky Wager . “I made a impolite hand gesture to the followers.
Wright taking part in towards Coventry in 1997 (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“I went again to the dressing room and there have been police – they got here to say that I’d been reported. I used to go to sure stadiums, and also you’d get a number of booing however once you obtained shut, they’d have fun, so I assumed they [Coventry] have been positive.
“So, what occurred was that when the sport completed, I clapped them and so they have been booing me, so I made the hand gesture and walked off. I obtained a £17,000 positive.”
The FA really fined Wright £15,000 – one of many largest monetary punishments ever handed out to a participant in England on the time. The punishment associated to 2 offences, nonetheless, with the FA deciding a positive was deserved somewhat than a prolonged ban.
A couple of days earlier than his gesture at Coventry, Wright had additionally made remarks to referee Mike Riley that acquired a yellow card on the time and have been later reported throughout Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn at Highbury.
Wright was talking with Keane and Gary Neville (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
David Davies, the FA’s director of public affairs, said: “The Fee made it completely clear to Ian Wright that he might anticipate no sympathy in any respect if he appeared earlier than them once more in related and confirmed circumstances.
“The severest of penalties that will take away him from the sport for a really very long time could be inevitable.”
