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FA overturns Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card

The British Football Association (FA) has officially overturned the red card shown to Arsenal’s young talent, Myles Lewis-Skelly. The verdict came after intense scrutiny of the incident that occurred during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, January 25.

Lewis-Skelly, aged 18, was issued a straight red card for what was deemed “serious foul play” after a tackle on Wolves’ defender Matt Doherty during the closing stages of the first half. The decision, made by referee Michael Oliver, was upheld by the VAR official. However, Arsenal believed that the young defender’s actions did not warrant such a harsh penalty and swiftly lodged an appeal with the FA.

The FA’s independent Regulatory Commission reviewed Arsenal’s appeal and released a statement on Tuesday affirming that they had decided to uphold the club’s claim of wrongful dismissal; subsequently, Lewis-Skelly’s three-match suspension was removed. This means Lewis-Skelly will be immediately available for selection in future Premier League matches.

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, who had expressed his disbelief at the original decision, commented, “I am absolutely fuming. But I will leave it with you, it is that obvious that I don’t think my words are going to help,” he told Sky Sports.

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Had the suspension stood, Lewis-Skelly would have been sidelined for key fixtures, including a Premier League clash against Manchester City, a Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle United, and a league game against Leicester City.

This ruling marks a crucial reprieve for Arsenal as they continue their pursuit of securing top honours this season. As a promising talent, Myles Lewis-Skelly’s availability bolsters Arsenal’s defensive options and lends stability to their lineup.

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