Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger gestures during their English Premier League football match against Aston Villa on March 24, 2012. – AFP Photo.

NYON, Switzerland: UEFA has imposed a three-match touchline ban on Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger for comments directed at the referee after his team's Champions League elimination this month.

UEFA says its disciplinary panel found Wenger guilty of ''improper conduct,'' and fined him (euro) 40,000 ($53,000).

The French coach will serve his third UEFA ban within a year if Arsenal qualifies to play in next season's Champions League or Europa League.

He can challenge the verdict at UEFA's appeals panel.

Wenger criticized Slovenian referee Damir Skomina after Arsenal was ousted by AC Milan in the last-16 round, despite a 3-0 second-leg victory.

The London club had lost 4-0 in Italy.