The Premier League explain the red card for Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly that got everyone talking in the game vs Wolves on Saturday.
On the Premier League website, external regarding serious foul play it states: “High + Full + Forceful contact on ankle or above is considered dangerous = Red card.”
Premier League Match Centre: “The referee’s call of a red card for Lewis-Skelly was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed his challenge to have been serious foul play.”
Wolves’ Joao Gomes was sent off on the 70th minute, who was booked in the first half, is shown a second yellow card for a high boot on Jurrien Timber’s ankle.
The Arsenal went 1-0 up four minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli’s cross was headed out by Nelson Semedo into the path of Riccardo Calafiori, whose half-volley goes in via the far post.
You can watch the controversial decision in the highlights video below…
#WOLARS – 43’
The referee’s call of a red card for Lewis-Skelly was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed his challenge to have been serious foul play.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) January 25, 2025
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports: “It’s incredible what the boys did again. In the context that we were thrown in again, it was about character, personality of the team, courage and intelligence to play the game we wanted to play. It was exceptional.”
On Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card: “It is that clear that I leave it to you guys. I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you. Because it is that obvious. I don’t think my words are going to help.”
Whether he had an explanation from match officials: “No.”
Whether he will be appealing against the decision: “That’s for the club to decide what the best decision is. I think it’s that obvious, maybe we don’t even need to.”
On how Lewis-Skelly is doing: “He is really happy now that the team won and we found a way to win it.”
Sky Sports‘ Sam Blitz: “Michael Oliver has a great view of it but is that serious foul play?
“Lewis-Skelly knew very little about it…
“Michael Oliver has history with Arsenal and this fixture.
“He controversially sent off Gabriel Martinelli for two yellow cards in the same move in this stadium.
“Now he’s at the centre of another refereeing controversy.”
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
“The initial thought was it was a red due to stopping the counter but I think it was the manner of the foul more than anything.
“The studs were up and came down the leg of Doherty. Arsenal had players back so it wasn’t last man.”
“I am absolutely fuming” 😡
Mikel Arteta on the decision to send Myles Lewis-Skelly off against Wolves 🟥 pic.twitter.com/6H0tvl2NEi
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2025
🔴 Mikel Arteta’s thoughts on Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card. He’s not happy! pic.twitter.com/CpDS5gQTAg
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) January 25, 2025
Sky Sports’ Tim Sherwood on Soccer Saturday:
“It’s a red card. He’s sent him off. The referee has not gone to the monitor.
“Down to ten, it’s almost like an even game now. Boos from the Arsenal segment of the crowd.
“I cannot believe Michael Oliver has sent Lewis-Skelly off there. I’ve heard on the commentary that any point of contact above the ankle has to be a red card.”
Sky Sports’ Mike Dean:
“I’ve got a still image. If you see it, you can see why the referee has decided what he’s done. He’s put his studs down the inside of his leg.
“Now I’ve seen the other image, you can see why he’s been sent off.”
Sky Sports’ John Phillips at Molineux:
“Myles Lewis-Skelly took a long time to leave the field and remonstrated with the fourth official on his way off. He looked distraught.
“Big call from referee Michael Oliver and it makes Arsenal’s job so hard now.”
Nedum Onuoha (Former Manchester City defender on Final Score): “That’s not a red, that will get overturned very quickly.
“He tries to stop the counter-attack and it doesn’t look very bad to me.”
Pat Nevin (Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live): “You are not going to believe this.
“If this is for a goal scoring chance – Myles Lewis-Skelly is only 10 yards outside the opposition’s box.
“It must be for violent conduct, but that doesn’t look like violent conduct.
“It’s a cynical trip.
“I have never seen that in my life life. I am stunned by a red card.”
Nick Mashiter (BBC Sport football news reporter): “Arsenal are furious, Myles Lewis-Skelly is sent off for tripping Matt Doherty as he broke from a Gunners corner, only 30 yards out from Wolves’ goal.
“It was cynical and he knew what he was doing to stop the break but was it worth a red?”
5Live experts on Lewis-Skelly red card…
Pat Nevin: “a bar so low even a limbo dancing snake couldn’t get under it…”
Mark Chapman: “baffling and nonsensical from supposedly one of our best referees.”— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) January 25, 2025
If that trip by Myles Lewis-Skelly is considered Serious Foul Play then there will be a torrent of red cards every game. I’ve rewatched it 8 times now and it’s a trip and a yellow. Rediculous decision. #AFC #WOLARS
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) January 25, 2025
That Lewis-Skelly sending off is a scandal. Equally baffling two referees took so long to give an obvious penalty here at #SaintsFC.
— Alex Crook ⚽️🎙 (@alex_crook) January 25, 2025
I don’t say this lightly, but I think that red card for Lewis-Skelly is the worst decision I’ve ever witnessed at a football stadium.
I’m completely baffled how that has been cleared by VAR. It’s the classic ‘good’ yellow card you take to cynically stop a counter.
— Jordan Campbell (@JordanC1107) January 25, 2025
Arsenal red card is a shocker… it’s not even a great debate… if that’s serious foul play heaven help us all…total incompetence from the VAR operators!
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) January 25, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted Premier League explain red card for Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly vs Wolves…
@dylan_smth_: Not as bad (from the ref) from this angle, still not sure
@MannyBLFC: It seemed harsh from the TV angle at normal speed, but Lewis-Skelly’s studs are up and he rakes down towards Doherty’s ankle. I can see why the red card was given.
@JackG0o: From that angle that’s an easy red
@Watch_LFC: This tackle of Lewis Skelly looks much worse from this angle. Studs up, makes contact high on the shin first, no chance of getting the ball at all. Very dangerous. Could have caused a serious injury to the player who was moving at speed.
@Maxim_A23: The Lewis-Skelly challenge from a different angle. I see why this was given as a red
@kloppo79: Studs first. Not playing the ball.
@clartsea1905: Can’t have any complaints when a players gone in studs up
@GoreyZz: One of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen
@CClan1975: It’s a very cynical foul but this is never a red card.
@calwwfc_: loooool id be fuming if they was against us
@WestHamPlace: Myles Lewis-Skelly has just been given a simply outrageous red card for Arsenal. Refereeing (even with the help of VAR) is just embarrassing in this country.
@PLCPolice: Never in a million years is that a red card. An absolutely insane call by Michael Oliver. Arsenal on the end of yet another mind boggling referee’s decision. #WOLARS
@FPLMate: Just seen the Lewis-Skelly red card. It is the most bog standard tactical yellow card tackle ever, that you see literally every week. Arsenal fans have the right to be annoyed with this one. Bizarre.
@DarrenArsenal1: Can’t hold it in. The red card is an utter disgrace, how many times do we have to endure incompetency from same refs over and over again. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s just that they are crap and there are no reprocussions for them being crap. Total disgrace

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