Andoni Iraola says he'll teach his players to go down easily after a penalty claim was waved away in Sunday's defeat to Arsenal.
Andoni Iraola has taken a pointed swipe at the officials after his side were refused a penalty in their defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. His message was laced with sarcasm: if going to ground is what it takes to win decisions, his players will be coached to do it.
The Spaniard is known for a measured approach in front of the cameras, so the jab stood out. Rather than simply listing his grievances, he suggested the standard of contact needed for a spot-kick appears to have shifted, and that staying on your feet may no longer be rewarded.
The comments land at a sensitive time for the Premier League, where debates over penalty calls, VAR involvement and consistency show no sign of fading. Every high-profile fixture seems to bring another flashpoint, and managers are increasingly willing to say what they think about it.
For Arsenal, the result is another three points secured in a game where the talking points kept going after the final whistle. For Iraola, the focus now is on turning frustration into a response on the pitch, even if the penalty decision will keep nagging at him.
