Spurs boss Antonio Conte attacks player disrespect towards officials

‘You have to show respect in every situation’: Tottenham boss Antonio Conte aims a thinly-veiled dig at Arsenal ahead of the north London derby with the Gunners accused of failing to control their players in recent clashes with Newcastle and Oxford

  • Antonio Conte has hit out at a lack of respect players show towards officials
  • Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal in the North London Derby on Sunday
  • The Gunners were twice accused of failing to control their players this month 
  • Conte said even while being upset, ‘in every moment you have to show respect’ 

Antonio Conte has taken a swipe at the receding levels of respect shown by players towards officials ahead of the north London derby.

Tottenham boss Conte did not pin it directly on Arsenal but Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders stand accused by the FA of failing to control their players in recent games against Newcastle and Oxford.

‘In an important game like this, the respect is always at the top,’ said Conte. ‘You have to show respect in every situation and especially with the referee because I know very well the difficulty to be a referee, to take decisions.

Antonio Conte has hit out at player disrespect towards on-field officials during football games

Arsenal were charged for failing to control their players in their FA Cup trip to Oxford United

‘To intimidate or to create a bad atmosphere is not fair. I don’t like this. I hate the people that try to do it.

‘Don’t forget that we are talking always about a game of football.’

Like Arteta, Conte has a reputation as a fiery touchline presence and was sent off earlier this season when an VAR intervention ruled out a Tottenham goal in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon.

‘I was really upset but I never, never lacked the respect of the referee,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘In every moment you have to show respect.’

Mikel Arteta was criticised for losing his temper during Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle 

Arteta was criticised when he lost his temper on the touchline as Arsenal saw two late penalty appeals rejected during a goalless draw against Newcastle.

‘Everyone tries to live the situation in the way they like to live,’ said Conte. ‘Arteta is another coach who shows his passion and transfers this to his players on the pitch. But honestly I see a lot of coaches involved during the game because now our job became really difficult.

‘To see a coach stay sitting on the bench is very difficult. Arteta is a coach like me. We show our passion. What happens on the pitch is in the moment, the emotion and nothing can prepare your mind for this.

‘For this reason sometimes you can celebrate in a strange way. This passion is a pure passion.’

Dejan Kulusevski is expected to return for the North London Derby on Sunday after injury

Conte expects to have Dejan Kulusevski back from injury against Arsenal on Sunday. Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur remains doubts after injuries.

Harry Kane requires only one goal to equal Tottenham’s all-time goal record of 266 held by Jimmy Greaves.

‘You know importance of Harry to me, to Tottenham and to England,’ said Conte. ‘He has great numbers and we are talking about a world-class striker and for sure he is going to beat every record.

‘He deserves this, but I want always to underline the other aspect, the human aspect because not only a world-class striker but a good man, a good person and for us, an important point of reference.

‘I’m sure he’s going to beat this record. He is doing something incredible. At same time, we try to help him and if he scores he helps us. This exchange of favours is important.’

Harry Kane needs one goal to equal Tottenham’s all-time goal record, held by Jimmy Greaves




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