Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has delivered his verdict on Myles Lewis-Skelly's controversial red card for Arsenal against Wolves.
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Lewis-Skelly shown controversial redArsenal furious at decisionGallagher says it's not the "worst decision"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Lewis-Skelly saw red against Wolves for a foul on Matt Doherty that left fans and Arsenal players raging. Mikel Arteta said he was "absolutely fuming" at the decision to award a red card after the match, while it later emerged that VAR had checked and confirmed match official Michael Oliver's decision and had agreed it was "serious foul play" by the Arsenal defender.
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Oliver and his family have since received threats and abuse from fans in the wake of the incident which has left the PGMOL "appalled." Gallagher has now had his say and does not feel that Oliver's decision was the worst he's ever seen but does believe it should have been just a yellow card.
WHAT GALLAGHER SAID
He told Sky Sports: "I think it is breaking up a promising attack. That's my opinion and other referees see it differently. Lewis-Skelly realises Doherty is away and his priority is to stop him quickly, and he flicks out. It's a very cynical foul but not a red card. It's not the worst decision in the world like people say. Referee Michael Oliver feels, and still feels, that he goes down his Achilles. If that's what he thinks, referees are told now that a tackle with studs down the Achilles has to be a red card. I don't think he does. It happens very quickly. But for me, I think it is a yellow card for stopping a promising attack. Is the challenge with brutality? Is it with malice? Is it gaining intensity and speed? I think not."
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Lewis-Skelly is currently facing a three-match ban as a result of the red card. Meanwhile, Oliver will be in action in the Champions League in midweek as he has been appointed the match referee for Barcelona's clash with Atalanta. Arsenal are also in action as they Girona in the final round of group games.
