Arsenal Football Club has been charged by the Football Association (FA) following an incident where players confronted referee Michael Oliver. This confrontation occurred after Myles Lewis-Skelly's controversial dismissal during their 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In the first half of the match, Oliver showed Lewis-Skelly a straight red card after he fouled Wolves player Matt Doherty. The referee deemed it as serious foul play, which led to a heated reaction from Arsenal players.
Doherty was just outside the Wolves box in the 43rd minute when he mounted a counter-attack and was brought down by Lewis-Skelly. Darren England, who served as the video assistant referee (VAR), upheld this decision.
Reactions and appeals
The red card decision infuriated Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and sparked divided opinions among pundits and fans alike. Alan Shearer, Match of the Day pundit and Premier League's record goalscorer, called it "one of the worst decisions I've seen in a long time".
Despite this controversy, Arsenal appealed against this decision successfully; earlier this week, Lewis-Skelly's three-match ban was overturned.
Charges against Arsenal
The FA stated that Arsenal had allegedly failed to ensure their players "did not behave in an improper manner". As such, they have until February 3rd to respond to these charges.
In addition to these charges against Arsenal, police are investigating "threats and abuse" directed at referee Michael Oliver. These allegations were confirmed by referees' body Professional Game Match Officials Limited.
This incident underscores how contentious decisions can stir up strong emotions within football matches - both on-field among players and off-field among fans alike. As sports fans eagerly await for further developments on this issue - whether it's the outcome of Arsenal's response to the FA charge or the investigation into threats against referee Michael Oliver - this incident serves as a reminder of the passion and high stakes involved in football. It also highlights the importance of maintaining sportsmanship and respect for officials, even amidst controversial decisions.