Arsenal escape UEFA fine after missing Champions League press conference
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineArsenal have escaped a UEFA fine after travel delays forced the club to miss the pre-match press conference ahead of their Champions League opener against Napoli.
The Gunners’ plans were disrupted by severe travel chaos after a technical problem affected air traffic control systems at airports across the United Kingdom.
As a result, Arsenal will not arrive in Naples in time for their scheduled pre-match press conference.
Clubs that fail to fulfil their media obligations can be punished with financial penalties by UEFA, with teams often fined when a conference is delayed by at least an hour.
However, UEFA regulations allow changes to pre-match plans when circumstances beyond a club’s control force them to do so.
The UEFA rules state: “Clubs may only change their MD-1 plans on account of force majeure and with the agreement of UEFA.”
The technical issue affecting London airports was outside Arsenal’s control, meaning Mikel Arteta’s side will not be penalised by European football’s governing body.
Arsenal typically travel to European matches via Luton Airport, which was also affected by the technical problem.
Liverpool faced a similar situation last season when a flight delay caused by “technical issues with the aircraft” resulted in the club missing their pre-match conference ahead of their Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
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Liverpool were not fined despite missing the conference and went on to beat the Bundesliga side 5-1.
Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai scored for Liverpool after the German side had taken the lead.
Arsenal will now turn their attention to their meeting with Napoli in Naples as they begin their 2026-27 Champions League campaign.
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