AIR MYLES
Whether you’re in the camp who believe there is some sort of sinister agenda being orchestrated by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited against Arsenal for reasons that nobody can explain, or the much larger one that knows there is nothing of the sort, pretty much everyone was in agreement that the red card shown to Myles Lewis-Skelly during his team’s game against Wolves last weekend was unfair. Everyone, that is, except the PGMOL, which did its increasingly damaged reputation few favours by doubling down on Michael Oliver’s decision to dismiss the teenager for what was a straightforward yellow card offence. The upshot? Arsenal appealed to the Football Association to have the card overturned and on Tuesday their independent regulatory commission duly obliged and an innocent young man walked free after being exonerated for a crime he did not commit.
Far from standing on the steps of FA HQ, having his fist held aloft in triumph by well-wishers and issuing a statement of defiance through his brief, it turns out Lewis-Skelly was oblivious to the creaking sound of the wheels of justice turning in his favour but was instead flaked out in repose on the plane ferrying himself and his teammates to Spain for their final Bigger Cup group game when the FA announced its verdict.
“An independent regulatory commission has upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Myles Lewis-Skelly and removed his three-match suspension,” droned a statement that may well have helped the defender on his way to the Land of Nod if he wasn’t already there. “The Arsenal player was sent off for serious foul play during their Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, January 25, 2025.”
While Lewis-Skelly will now have to up his fouling game [his grandma would love that – Football Daily Ed] to win back his record of being the third-youngest player to be dismissed in Premier League history after Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, his manager was pleased to see justice being done even if he wasn’t prepared to disturb his young charge’s rest to tell him about his reprieve. “Obviously, I’m very happy that a decision has been made and Myles is going to be able to play again,” cheered Mikel Arteta before Arsenal’s game against the 11 gentlemen of Girona. “He was sleeping on the plane when I looked back and I got the news, so I haven’t spoken to him but I imagine a big smile on his face.” While the PGMOL has yet to comment on the matter, an apology is unlikely to be forthcoming. It probably wouldn’t do much good anyway, as those most incensed by Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal almost certainly wouldn’t accept it and nobody else really cares.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I would be concerned about stories like this which are sensationalised on the basis of driving interest and gossip, and which can perpetuate negative connotation’s around being gay in professional football. I also have concerns about the method of delivery of this kind of story, a video with adverts all over it driving traffic and monetising the story. And the general tone of subsequent conversations around this when there are really important issues to be discussed here” – Jon Holmes, from the consultancy group Sports Media LGBT+, speaks to Barney Ronay in this piece about why the Sun has simply been monetising David Coote’s distress.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Far be it from me to risk the wrath of Motherwell, but I can’t help thinking that the words of the club chairman rang somewhat hollow (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). After praising the achievements of the club’s departing manager, Stuart Kettlewell, among them his ‘exceptional record’, generation of transfer income and development of young players, he noted that: ‘… as a fan-owned, community-driven football club, we will always look after our own’. The reason for Kettlewell’s departure? Fan abuse of such a personal nature it was upsetting his family who didn’t want to attend matches any more. How many fans were banned for this? No mention on the Motherwell FC website” – Bernard Murray-Gates.
Given the latest officiating fiasco by Michael Oliver and Darren England, what about a card system for on-field and VAR refereeing mistakes? Two egregious errors = two yellows = one red = no officiating the next three scheduled games? Two reds = suspension from refereeing for six weeks? If there is no accountability, no one is watching the watchers” – Darryl Accone.
Burnley fans: rather than watch your beloved Clarets transform the beautiful game into a competitive form of watching paint dry, simply avert your tired eyes from the pitch and instead look upwards to admire how the Turf Moor stadium roof is put together. That’s riveting” – Mark McFadden.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our letter o’ the day is … Mark McFadden, who wins a copy of Football And How To Survive It, by Pat Nevin. You can buy a copy from Big Website’s bookshop. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.
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