Soccer-Arsenal's Emery charged over kicking bottle at fan

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been charged with improper conduct after he kicked a bottle at a Brighton & Hove Albion supporter, the Football Association (FA) said on Thursday.

The Spanish coach immediately apologised to the fan following the incident during the closing moments of Arsenal's 1-1 Premier League draw at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday.

Emery said he hoped the his swift apology would be enough to avoid a potential touchline ban.

"I kicked it for me and it went near the supporters. I said my apologies, I repeat my apologies again," he told a news conference on Thursday.

"I kicked it because it is near me and not because of this intention."

When asked if he expects to be punished retrospectively by the FA, Emery said: "I hope not. It's not to do with the action but the circumstance. I hope the apology is the end to the matter."

Emery has until 1800 GMT on Jan. 2 to respond to the charge.

Arsenal visit league leaders Liverpool on Saturday. (Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)

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