Arsenal’s Lewis-Skelly free to play after red card appeal upheld

Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly has had his three-match ban rescinded following an independent review of his controversial red card against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 18-year-old was sent off during Arsenal’s 3-1 win at Molineux after referee Michael Oliver judged his foul on Matt Doherty to be serious foul play. The decision, initially upheld by VAR, provoked outrage among Arsenal fans and manager Mikel Arteta, who described it as “obvious” and “fuming.”

Arsenal appealed the dismissal, and the Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that an independent regulatory commission had upheld their claim of wrongful dismissal. As a result, Lewis-Skelly’s suspension has been removed, and he is eligible to feature in Arsenal’s upcoming matches.

An FA statement read: “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, 25 January 2025.”

The decision has been welcomed by Arteta, who expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. “Yeah, obviously really happy that the decision has been made, and Myles is going to be available for us,” he said.

Lewis-Skelly has travelled with the Arsenal squad for their Champions League fixture against Girona and will now be available for crucial Premier League games against Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Leicester City.

However, the fallout from the incident has extended beyond the pitch. Referee Michael Oliver has reportedly faced abuse and death threats on social media since the match. The Premier League and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have both condemned the abuse in strong terms.

A Premier League statement read: “The Premier League strongly condemns the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver. No official should be subject to any form of abuse. We will continue to support Michael, PGMOL, and all investigations.”

The PGMOL added: “We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver following the Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal fixture. The police are aware, and investigations are ongoing. This unacceptable behaviour has no place in the sport.”

Arteta also called for an end to such abuse. “We have to try hard to eradicate it from the game,” he said. “It damages our sport. Let’s get it out.”

The decision to overturn Lewis-Skelly’s ban highlights the importance of accountability, but the abuse directed at Oliver underscores a troubling trend that continues to plague football.