Wenger questioned Mike Dean's integrity in post-match tirade

The Football Association (FA) has published its written reasons for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's three-match sideline ban and £40,000 fine, citing "very aggressive" remarks toward referee Mike Dean following the Gunners' 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Wenger was adamant his side was wrongly punished with a late handball call on Calum Chambers, which awarded an equalising penalty at the Hawthorns on Dec. 31. He confronted Dean after the match and called into question the referee's integrity in an exchange that Dean summarised in his incident report.

"As we've entered the dressing room after the game Mr. Wenger stood behind us in the doorway and told the West Brom steward to 'let him in,'" Dean writes, as quoted by the Independent. "He was very aggressive leaning towards me, pointing aggressively at me saying 'you're not honest' on numerous occasions. I replied 'so you’re calling me a cheat.' He replied 'I maintain what I say, you're not honest.'

"He then said 'you've done this to us many times before, you're supposed to be professional, you're a disgrace.' He was then ushered out of the room by the West Brom safety officer."

Referee chief Mike Riley later revealed Dean admitted he had made a mistake after looking at the replays, a luxury he could not yet consult in-game as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has not yet been implemented in the English leagues.

"I know Mike would have overturned it," Riley said of Dean, had VAR been available. "He messages people, and he's a very honest guy, and he goes, 'I got it wrong.' He knows he did."

It was little consolation for Wenger, however, who served his ban by watching Arsenal's matches against Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, and Bournemouth from the stands.