MARK CHAPMAN led fury and amazement from fans as Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off after one of the “worst decisions ever”.
The Arsenal midfielder was just outside his own area when he cynically tripped Matt Doherty and saw red in a 1-0 win at Wolves.
Puzzled viewers at first wondered if Lewis-Skelly was dismissed for denying a clear scoring chance – even though it was so far out.
But a Premier League statement later clarified VAR had checked for “serious foul play” – with referee Michael Oliver’s decision upheld.
Chapman, who will share duties as BBC Match of the Day host, called the decision “baffling and nonsensical from supposedly one of our best referees”.
Beeb 5Live pundit Pat Nevin said labelling such a challenge serious foul play was setting “a bar so low even a limbo dancing snake couldn’t get under it”.
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Even ex-Tottenham star Jamie O’Hara said: “I’m all for Arsenal having a beast but that is never ever a red card, one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen 😩 Jheez lol”
One fan posted: “I’m all for Arsenal having a beast but that is never ever a red card, one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.”
Another hit out just as strongly.
He said: “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.”
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Another observer wrote: “It’s outrageous. If it was close to Arsenal goal or even near the half way line I could maybe accept but that is a terrible decision.”
And one viewer said: “As much as I dislike them (Arsenal)… a horrible decision from the ref! Mad how that’s been given.”
The Prem statement read: “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.”
Speaking after full-time, boss Arteta admitted he was “fuming” over the red card.
He said: “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.
“I think it is that obvious that we don’t need any comments today and hopefully the right thing will happen after today.
“Hopefully we don’t need to (appeal) and, if we have [to], it happened and it’s a really good precedent what happened with Bruno this season as well.
“So, hopefully, okay we were in a position we shouldn’t be in. At least, let’s be in a position that we should be in for the next few weeks and allow that player to continue to do his job.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
