Arsenal discover UEFA punishment decision for cancelled Champions League press conference | OneFootball

Arsenal’s travel plans have been pushed back due to air traffic control issues in the UK

Arsenal are expected to avoid punishment from UEFA for missing their pre-match press conference on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League clash against Napoli.

The Gunners, who were runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain last season, begin their quest for a first-ever major European crown with a trip to Naples to face the 2024/25 Serie A winners on Wednesday night.

Although, Arsenal’s preparations for the showdown at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona have been hit significantly.

All clubs competing in UEFA competitions are required "to fulfil their media obligations the day before the match", but the Gunners were forced to cancel Mikel Arteta's media briefing due to travel trouble.

Arteta had been due to hold his pre-match press conference at 7:15pm BST on Tuesday evening, but Arsenal's flight was heavily disrupted.

This is because of air traffic control issues in the UK which delayed the Gunners' travel and it was decided that a press conference would not be possible with the squad not expected to arrive in Naples until 9:30pm local time.

This decision prompted fears that the club could be in hot water with European football's governing body.

UEFA regulation states: "The clubs must arrange for their teams to arrive on-site by the evening before the match concerned at the latest, and in time to fulfil their media obligations the day before the match."

However, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body are not expected to punish Arsenal, as Standard Sport understands that disciplinary action is considered unlikely due to the mitigating factors.