Myles Lewis-Skelly's Three-Match Ban Overturned

Cataleya

January 29, 2025 · 1 min read

Myles Lewis-Skelly's Three-Match Ban Overturned
FootBall | January 29, 2025
Referee showed Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card for his foul on Matt Doherty. (Image: PA Media)

Myles Lewis-Skelly’s three-match ban has been overturned after an independent regulatory commission ruled that referee Michael Oliver wrongfully dismissed him. The 18-year-old received a straight red for a foul on Matt Doherty during the 43rd minute of Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at Wolves. VAR initially upheld the red card but after Arsenal appealed, the commission reversed the decision. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed relief over the ruling, saying it would give the team more options ahead of their upcoming Champions League match against Girona.

“It’s positive for the team,” he said, acknowledging the club’s efforts to gather evidence and defend Myles Lewis-Skelly’s case. The foul occurred as Doherty mounted a counter-attack near the edge of the Arsenal box and the red card came from the assumption of serious foul play. The decision sparked widespread criticism. Alan Shearer called it “one of the worst decisions” he had seen, arguing that the referee should have shown a yellow card instead of a red.

Other pundits including Pat Nevin and Nedum Onuoha also criticized the decision, pointing out that the challenge lacked the intensity or danger typically associated with a red card offense. Former referee Mike Dean acknowledged the foul but disagreed with the severity of the punishment. After the overturning of the ban, Arteta expressed his satisfaction while also noting that the incident had led to police investigating threats and abuse directed at referee Oliver. Despite the controversy, Arsenal secured a 1-0 win with Riccardo Calafiori scoring the decisive goal later in the match.