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Focusing on contracts Wenger urges police to stay out of Mihajlovic bust-up
LONDON (Reuters) -- Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said on Friday police should stay out of football after reports that Lazio midfielder Sinisa Mihajlovic could face a jail sentence over his Champions League bust-up with Patrick Vieira. Wenger said he is still confident of agreeing a new contract with Dutch international forward Dennis Bergkamp, adding he was not interested in signing Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler. French midfielder Vieira was racially abused by Mihajlovic when Lazio and Arsenal met at the Stadio Olimpico in the first stage of the Champions League in October. Yugoslav Mihajlovic issued an apology but is now being investigated by police and faces a jail sentence if convicted, according to reports in the Italian press. Wenger urged the police not to interfere and said it would be wrong to sentence Mihajlovic. "I prefer things to remain in the hands of football's authorities and I can't see why the police should get involved," said Wenger. "I don't think somebody should go to jail if someone says something in the heat of a game. "My personal opinion is that legal action should not be taken, but I think the decision rests solely in the hands of Patrick Vieira. I don't really know what happened during the game or that the police has got involved." Wenger ruled himself out of a move for Fowler, also said to be a Chelsea target. Wenger said he was not prepared to add another striker to his squad until the European Commission finalizes proposed changes to the transfer system. "I admire him (Fowler) very much but I've never made an approach for him," Wenger said. "Until the transfer system changes I don't think I ever will make a move for him. I have four top class strikers at the moment and I have a problem keeping them happy. "I don't think there will be a lot of changes here, but you can never say never. In the future, if things did change, I may make an offer but that depends on the system." Bergkamp's current deal expires at the end of the season and he is free to talk to other clubs from January 1 if a new deal is not signed. The Arsenal coach said he had not set a date for the next round of contract talks but is positive that Bergkamp will agree to end his career at Highbury. "The player knows he has until January 1, and I am totally confident it will be sorted," he said. "I think he will sign and even though we have not set a date to discuss things I believe he will stay here."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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