Arsenal’s fine for surrounding a match official during their match against Oxford United has been upheld and increased after their appeal.

Arsenal were charged by the FA in January after a few players surrounded referee David Coote to appeal for a penalty against Oxford United.

Goal then reported that Arsenal had appealed the charge, believing it to be unreasonable.

Arsenal argued that the FA’s claim that the Gunners forcefully tried to get the referee to overturn the decision isn’t consistent with the referee’s own report – which didn’t mention anything like that.

The Gunners also highlighted similar incidents involving other clubs that hadn’t led to a charge, citing several examples in their appeal.

But it was all in vain, as the FA confirmed on Friday that the charge stands.

To make matters worse, the FA had also appealed the fine, believing it to be unduly lenient. The FA won their appeal, and Arsenal’s fine has been increased to £60,000.

£20,000 of this fine has been suspended until the end of the season, but that’s not going to matter much, as Arsenal have already received another charge to bring that suspended penalty into effect.

The FA confirmed the new charge for Arsenal following Wednesday’s game against Manchester City, again related to failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.

With City also receiving two charges, both clubs have until Tuesday, February 21st to provide their responses.