Wenger refuses to apologise for Pardew bust-up

ARSENE WENGER has refused to apologise for his recent confrontation with Alan Pardew on the Upton Park touchline and has claimed he was provoked by the West Ham manager’s “disrespectful behaviour”.

Both men are currently facing Football Association misconduct charges as a result of the melee on November 5, which saw Wenger engage Pardew in a shoving and shouting match in the wake of Marlon Harewood’s late winning goal.

Arsenal and West Ham have 10 days to decide whether to appeal the charges, which carry the threat of a heavy fine or, more significantly, a touchline ban if upheld by a disciplinary commission.

Pardew quickly apologised for his role in the incident, but Wenger had kept his counsel until after his side’s comfortable 3-0 victory over Liverpool at the Emirates stadium last night.

“I think Alan Pardew apologised because he was conscious that I felt provoked by disrespectful behaviour in my area,” he said. “I reacted and I regret that because you should never react, but I accept his apologies and life goes on.

“I have not spoken to Alan Pardew or anyone else about the matter since it happened and I will not especially demand a hearing because, for me, the incident is over. I don’t particularly want to travel to the FA: after 23 years on the bench, I know when my behaviour is wrong and, as far as I am concerned, that’s it.”

Wenger’s refusal to issue an apology is not likely to help his cause when he travels to Soho Square and Arsenal are keen for the FA charge to remain uncontested in the hope that their manager will be hit with only a financial penalty.