LONDON, ENGLAND — Former Premier League official Mark Halsey has claimed that Arsenal’s Max Dowman was unfortunate to be shown a straight red card in his side’s Carabao Cup loss to Fleetwood Town.
The 16-year-old was sent off in the 85th minute. He appeared to swing a kick at Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal.
The sending-off ultimately proved costly for Arsenal. They lost on penalties.
Halsey’s View
Halsey feels that the teenager displayed no signs of violent conduct. He compared the incident to Cole Palmer’s altercation with Mateus Fernandes. Palmer’s clash occurred in Chelsea’s Premier League match against Tottenham.
“Max Dowman was unfortunate to be sent off for his retaliation towards Harrison Neal in Arsenal’s disaster Carabao Cup exit,” Halsey said.
“Palmer was arguably more aggressive but still only got a yellow card. It’s not too different. If anything, Palmer was slightly more aggressive.
“So I don’t think it was an act of violent conduct. It was just an aggressive nature. Which is what happened to Palmer.”
Retaliation But No Violent Conduct
The ex-referee admitted Dowman was at fault for retaliating to the challenge. But he did not feel it warranted a straight red card.
“He was frustrated after getting hit with a big challenge from Neal but the defender clearly had the ball,” he added.
Appeal and Potential Consequences
Arsenal have appealed Dowman’s sending-off. Halsey believes there is a chance that the disciplinary panel overturn the decision.
However, the absence of VAR meant that Michael Salisbury had to make the decision. In contrast, Chris Kavanagh officiated Palmer’s incident with VAR assistance.
If Dowman’s appeal is unsuccessful, he will miss three games. This will impact the youngster going forward.
It will mean he cannot play in the Premier League. This could mean he misses Arsenal’s game at Liverpool, along with Hull City and Newcastle United.
What This Means
The incident highlights the debate over refereeing decisions in English football. The consistency of decisions is a major talking point.
For Arsenal, losing Dowman for three games would be a blow. The young midfielder has been an important squad player.
What Happens Next
Arsenal will await the outcome of their appeal. The club will be hoping the decision is overturned.
For now, the focus is on the upcoming fixtures. The Gunners will need to cope without Dowman if the appeal fails.
