Arsenal have been handed a significant fine by an independent regulatory commission for failing to control their players following Michael Oliver’s decision to send Myles Lewis-Skelly off against Wolves last month.
Lewis-Skelly was given his marching orders for tripping Matt Doherty on the edge of the Wolves box towards the end of the first half at Molineux.
The decision sparked outrage online and in the media, with many claiming the foul was neither reckless nor denying a dangerous counter-attacking opportunity for Vitor Pereira’s side.
After a week or so of deliberation, Lewis-Skelly’s red card was eventually overturned, and the teenager went on to score against Manchester City, in a game he would’ve been suspended for.
However, this incident has prompted yet another twist that will infuriate the Gunners faithful, weeks after it took place.
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Arsenal fined for players’ behaviour after Myles Lewis-Skelly red card against Wolves
After referee Oliver surprisingly brandished a red card for Lewis-Skelly’s cynical foul on Doherty, Arsenal’s players swarmed around the official.
The Gunners’ were evidently perplexed at the decision, although the commotion around Oliver was relatively minimal.
Despite this, Arsenal have been punished for these players’ actions, as an independent regulatory commission found them to be guilty of failing ‘to ensure their players did not behave in an improper way’ towards Oliver.
The North London club will pay £65,000 for this misdemeanour, with the commission releasing the following statement: “The Commission noted that football matches are invariably peppered with controversial refereeing decisions and it is incumbent upon football clubs to make sure that their players accept those decisions even when their players vehemently believe that a mistake has been made by the Referee.”
Arsenal fans are right to feel aggrieved by fine
While the fine isn’t a significant blow to a club of Arsenal’s stature, the premise of it will frustrate those within the club, but more so the club’s supporters.
The reaction from Arsenal’s players was inevitable given the absurdity of the decision, and given it was in the midst of an intense encounter that was pivotal to the team’s title race.
However, what makes the fine so egregious is that the dissent shown from the Gunners’ players was not unique in the Premier League, yet punishments aren’t consistently handed to teams who replicate this behaviour.
Players frequently surround the officials and express their disbelief with refereeing decisions, but aren’t met with a huge fine for this.
Arsenal were fined for receiving six yellow cards against Liverpool last season, another rule that doesn’t seem to be consistently implemented in the English top flight.
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