• Tue. Feb 11th, 2025

Myles Lewis-Skelly: Arsenal defender’s red card in Wolves win overturned after successful appeal | Football News

Byadmin

Jan 28, 2025


Myles Lewis-Skelly has avoided a three-match ban after Arsenal successfully appealed against his red card in Saturday’s win at Wolves.

The 18-year-old was controversially shown a straight red card by referee Michael Oliver in the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 victory for taking down Matt Doherty in his own half.

Lewis-Skelly became the third youngest player to be dismissed in Premier League history, but the Gunners lodged an appeal in a bid to get the red card overturned and the FA’s decision means the versatile full-back will not be suspended.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left “absolutely fuming” by the decision, which was heavily criticised by fans and pundits.

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The Ref Watch panel take a closer look at Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card against Wolves

But Lewis-Skelly’s red card has been overturned meaning the teenager is available for Arsenal’s home game against Manchester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, as well as the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Newcastle on February 5, live on Sky Sports, and the Premier League trip to Leicester on February 15.


Sunday 2nd February 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm


An FA spokesperson statement said: “An independent regulatory commission has upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Myles Lewis-Skelly and removed his three-match suspension.

“The Arsenal player was sent off for serious foul play during their Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, January 25, 2025.”

The FA’s overturn comes despite the Professional Game Match Officials Limited’s (PGMOL), the body in charge of English refereeing, judging that the challenge was extremely late, the point of contact was high and video evidence supported that conclusion.

Arsenal went on to win the match at Wolves, who were also reduced to 10 men in the second half, thanks to Riccardo Calafiori’s second-half effort, which kept the pressure on title rivals Liverpool.

Lewis-Skelly trained with his Arsenal team-mates at the club’s London Colney base on Tuesday prior to their final Champions League group fixture against Girona.

Arsenal are third in the 36-team table and are well placed to progress to the last 16 automatically.

Oliver receives online abuse after Lewis-Skelly red card

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Jamie O’Hara and Jay Bothroydon weigh in on the debate around Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card against Wolves.

The reaction to Oliver’s decision became so severe on social media that the PGMOL issued a rare public statement on Sunday calling out the online abuse which had already prompted a police investigation.

“We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver following the Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Arsenal fixture,” they wrote.

“No official should be subject to any form of abuse, let alone the abhorrent attacks aimed at Michael and his family over the past 24 hours.

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The Ref Watch panel discuss the abuse that Michael Oliver has received following his decision to send off Lewis-Skelly

“The police are aware, and a number of investigations have commenced. We are supporting Michael, and all those affected, and are determined to tackle this unacceptable behaviour.

“Sadly, this is not the first time a match official has been forced to deal with threats in recent times. We will continue to support all investigations.”

Separately from the successful appeal, Sky Sports News understands Arsenal will continue to support the PGMOL and Oliver over the abuse he has received.

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Mikel Arteta says he is ‘fuming’ at the decision to present Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card for a foul on Matt Doherty in Arsenal’s win against Wolves.

In confirming their investigation, the UK Football Policing Unit said in a statement: “Enquiries are in the early stages and officers are working closely with social media providers, including Facebook and X, to identify those responsible for the messages.”

Pardew: Correct decision to overturn Lewis-Skelly red card

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Take a look at all four of Arsenal’s red cards in the Premier League this season.

Ex-Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew told Sky Sports News:

“I think that’s the correct decision.

“Mikel Arteta after the game made it quite clear that they were going to appeal and the tackle was innocuous to me.

“It was just a trip and I think the referee got it completely wrong, so I think that was justice.”

Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:

“I think it just proves that the systems we’ve already got in place work. If you feel that you’ve been hard done by, there is a process by which you can appeal and it’s heard very, very quickly and the right decision has been reached.

“Arsenal ended up winning the game and Wolves had a player sent off as well, so everything has worked out.

“But we’ve still got to talk about everything that’s been happening around referees and the abuse and the situation we’ve got to where the police are guarding the home of one of our most high-profile referees – is that what we really want football to become in this day and age?”



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