08 November 2023 , 14:16
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Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has labelled comments from Gareth Taylor around his touchline behaviour "unacceptable".
Taylor criticised Eidevall in his post-match television interview following Arsenal's dramatic 2-1 WSL win over Manchester City on Sunday. The City boss was less than impressed with the conduct of his opposite number Eidevall during the match, specifically in regard to the fourth official Melissa Burgin, using the term "bullying."
Taylor's team lost the game in the dying minutes when Stina Blackstenius capitalised on a dreadful error from Khiara Keating to score the winner. This was after the visitors had looked to have salvaged a point when Chloe Kelly's late second-half strike cancelled out Steph Catley's opener.
"That is always the same with him (Jonas Eidevall) because he is constantly at the fourth official and I think it is bullying," Taylor told BBC Sport after the game. "I am protecting the fourth official but that's not my job. I'm massively frustrated. We've had a good start and we move on and we will be better for this."
But Eidevall has now said that the comments weren't an accurate reflection of the game and that he believes an apology is now needed following Taylor's remarks.
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"I was really disappointed with the comments. There is no truth in them," he said. "The wording that Gareth (Taylor) used afterwards is borderline slander.
"Either he is not very good with the truth or he is not every good with the language. I don't think his comments are acceptable and I would expect him to reach out with an apology.
"But I'm not sure if that's going to happen."
Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor (L) accused Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall (R) of bullying the fourth official in the former's 2-1 loss on Sunday afternoon (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Neither Eidevall, nor his City counterpart Taylor, were booked during the contest. Mirror Football also understands that the Arsenal boss did also not feature in the referee's match report and was not spoken to regarding inappropriate behaviour at any point in the game.
Taylor has spoken since the game on Sunday and did not retract his initial claim around perceived "bullying" of the fourth official. Whilst also previewing his team's Conti Cup tie with Liverpool, Taylor said: "I don't want to really elaborate," Taylor said. "But I was asked a question and that is why I said what I said.
"Why we were having a disagreement. We were told at the beginning of the season there would be a clamp down on asking for yellow cards, red cards, that type of stuff.
"I think it was over the top - it's unnecessary. If it's a one off, it's fine. But if it's constant, constant all the time, then I think that's where it becomes a problem."