Arsenal Hit with £65,000 Fine Over Myles Lewis-Skelly Red Card Protests

Controversial Red Card Sparks Heavy Sanction

Arsenal have been fined £65,000 by the Football Association (FA) for failing to control their players following Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card during last month’s Premier League clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The young left-back was sent off just before half-time for an alleged serious foul play on Matt Doherty. While Arsenal successfully appealed the decision and had the red card rescinded, the team’s aggressive protests on the pitch led to a significant misconduct charge.

Arsenal Players Surrounded Referee Michael Oliver

When referee Michael Oliver brandished the red card, Arsenal players reacted furiously, with nine squad members confronting the official. Despite the red card being overturned, the FA still deemed the reaction excessive and imposed a hefty fine.

In an official statement, the FA confirmed the charge and punishment:

“An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a £65,000 fine on Arsenal in relation to the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 25 January.
It was alleged that Arsenal failed to ensure their players did not behave in an improper way around the 43rd minute, and the club subsequently admitted to this charge.”

Why Is Arsenal’s Fine So High?

This punishment is three times higher than the standard £20,000 fine typically given for similar misconduct breaches. Several factors contributed to the increased penalty:

✔ Number of players involved: At least nine Arsenal players surrounded the referee.
✔ Duration of the protests: The confrontation lasted longer than usual incidents.
✔ Repeat offense: Arsenal have breached this rule six times since 2022.

While Arsenal had shown disciplinary improvement in the last year, their previous five misconduct charges between January 2022 and February 2023 played a role in the severity of the fine.

What’s Next for Arsenal?

Despite the fine, Arsenal avoided a harsher punishment due to their improved conduct in recent months. However, this incident serves as a reminder for Mikel Arteta’s squad to manage their on-field reactions more carefully.

💬 Do you think the £65,000 fine is justified, or is it too harsh? Share your thoughts in the comments!