BREAKING: VAR finally releases OFFICIAL statement on Lewis Skelly’s red card situation as new footage emerges
BREAKING: VAR finally releases OFFICIAL statement on Lewis Skelly’s red card situation as new footage emerges
The Premier League have confirmed the decision to send off Myles Lewis-Skelly in Arsenal’s clash with West Ham was correct.
The Hammers were leading 1-0 entering the final 20 minutes thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s goal late in the first-half. Things went from bad to worse for the Gunners with 17 minutes remaining when Lewis-Skelly was sent off.
The left-back brought down Mohammed Kudus as the West Ham forward stole the ball on the half way line. Kudus was a long way from goal but Arsenal keeper David Raya was also a long way out of his penalty area.
Referee Craig Pawson at first showed a yellow to Lewis-Skelly, but VAR Peter Bankes directed him to the pitchside monitor. After reviewing the incident, Pawson upgraded the booking to a straight red card
The Premier League backed the decision to upgrade the colour of the card. In a statement, they said: “VAR checked the referee’s call of yellow card to Lewis-Skelly for a challenge on Kudus – deeming it denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity due to the goalkeeper’s position and there being no covering defender, therefore recommended an on-field review. The referee then upgraded the yellow to a red card.”
Former West Ham keeper Rob Green insisted the decision to send Lewis-Skelly off was the correct call. When he was at first booked, Green told BBC Radio 5 Live: “That is so,so fortunate for Myles Lewis-Skelly.
“David Raya is so far out of his goal that it is a goalscoring opportunity. It may well be a long way out, on the halfway line, but if the defender isn’t there it is a free shot on goal. A real controversial call.”
Once it was upgraded to a red, he added: “Arsenal fans aren’t happy but the fact is that there was nothing stopping Mohammed Kudus from having a free shot on goal from 35 to 40 yards. It is a red card.”
Former title winner Chris Sutton piled on the misery for Lewis-Skelly. He told BBC Final Score: “I thought it was a red card. A really daft challenge.”
The sending off is Lewis-Skelly’s second in the space of a few weeks. He saw red in the defeat of Wolves, with Michael Oliver taking a dim view of his tackle on Matt Doherty.
Video assistant referee (VAR) Darren England upheld referee Oliver’s decision that Lewis-Skelly committed serious foul play. But the FA decided to overturn the call, though Arsenal were fined for failing to control their players in the aftermath.
