Antonio Conte Fined for Confronting Referee in Tottenham’s Loss to ArsenalAntonio Conte Fined for Confronting Referee in Tottenham’s Loss to Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has been fined £15,000 by the Football Association (FA) for confronting referee Peter Bankes after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on January 15, 2023. Conte was adjudged to have used “insulting and/or abusive language and/or behavior” towards Bankes in the tunnel following the match. The incident was captured on video and reviewed by the FA. Tottenham condemned Conte’s behavior in a statement, saying it was “unacceptable” and that the club would be “supporting his appeal.” The FA’s Independent Regulatory Commission found that Conte had breached Rule E3 of the FA’s Rules and Regulations, which states that “no participant shall use any insulting or abusive language or behavior towards a Match Official.” Conte has 14 days to appeal the decision. If his appeal is unsuccessful, he will face an additional one-match touchline ban. The incident occurred after Arsenal had scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of the match to secure a crucial victory. Conte was visibly frustrated by Bankes’s handling of the game, particularly a decision to award a free kick to Arsenal in the build-up to their second goal. Conte’s fine and potential touchline ban come at a critical time for Tottenham, who are currently fourth in the Premier League table but have lost three of their last four games. The club is also set to face Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.
