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VAR upheld Michael Oliver’s on-field decision.
The Premier League has provided an explanation for the controversial decision to issue a straight red card to Myles Lewis-Skelly during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 25, 2025. The decision, made by referee Michael Oliver and confirmed by VAR, has drawn significant criticism from fans, players, and managers alike
The incident occurred in the 43rd minute when Wolves’ Matt Doherty was on a counter-attack following an Arsenal corner. Lewis-Skelly, attempting to stop the attack, made a high challenge on Doherty, which resulted in the Wolves player being sent to the ground. Oliver deemed the challenge to be serious foul play and issued a red card, a decision that was upheld by VAR.
In a statement released on their official Match Centre account on X, the Premier League explained that the referee’s call was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed the challenge to have been serious foul play. The statement emphasized that the decision was made based on the severity of the challenge and the potential danger it posed to the opponent.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was visibly frustrated by the decision, describing it as “one of the worst decisions that I’ve seen in a long time”. He expressed hope that the Premier League would review the decision and overturn the red card, citing a similar incident involving Bruno Fernandes earlier in the season that was overturned.
Arsenal has the option to appeal the red card decision, and the club is currently considering whether to pursue this course of action. The appeal process would involve a review by an independent panel, who would assess whether the red card was justified based on the available evidence.
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