Arsenal analyst Miguel Molina has been handed a warning by the Football Association (FA) after it finally ruled on his clash with Aston Villa counterpart Victor Manas.
A heated altercation between the duo occurred in the press box at Villa Park during a dramatic Premier League encounter back in February, in which a Jorginho effort went in off former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to hand the Gunners a late lead before a thrilling 4-2 win was then capped off by Gabriel Martinelli.
The row erupted after that Martinez own goal, with Villa’s head of performance analysis Manas, who previously worked at Arsenal under current Villa boss Unai Emery, believed to have been angered by the celebrations from Molina, a technical analyst coach in north London under Mikel Arteta.
Stewards are said to have moved in to diffuse the war of words, with Manas and Molina then having cleared the air between them afterwards.
Asked about the fracas after the match, Arsenal manager Arteta said: “Like anything that happens in the stands. We will look at it, address it and take action if it’s necessary.”
The FA also looked into the incident and Manas has now been hit with a three-match stadium ban plus an £8,000 fine by an independent regulatory commission, with the Villa analyst having “admitted that his behaviour during the 94th minute was improper and violent”.
A subsequent charge of improper conduct in the tunnel after the game was withdrawn however, with Manas handed a warning instead.
It means he will be absent from Villa’s first three games of the new Premier League season under Emery, against Newcastle, Everton and Burnley.
However, Arsenal’s Molina will face no ban or fine, with only a warning dished out as to his future conduct after charges that his behaviour and/or language was improper and/or abusive and/or insulting during the 94th minute, and that his behaviour in the tunnel after the final whistle was improper, both withdrawn before an FA hearing.
