Arsenal have lost their fight to clear Max Dowman for Sunday's trip to Liverpool. The FA confirmed on Thursday that an independent Regulatory Commission has rejected the club's appeal against the 16-year-old's red card at Fleetwood Town, and his three-match suspension stands.
The Gunners had lodged an appeal on two grounds — that Dowman's dismissal was wrongful, and that the punishment was excessive. Both claims were thrown out. In its statement, the FA said the commission "dismissed claims of both wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment", and that the written reasons for the decision will be published in due course.
A costly 85th minute at Fleetwood
Dowman was shown a straight red card by referee Michael Salisbury in the 85th minute of Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie, after kicking out at Harrison Neal in retaliation for a heavy tackle that itself went unpunished. The reaction was judged to be violent conduct, which carries an automatic three-game ban.
The dismissal capped a miserable night for the Premier League champions. Arsenal fell behind to Aaron Loupalo-Bi's 21st-minute strike, levelled through Viktor Gyokeres after Martin Odegaard's half-time introduction, then lost the shootout 5-3 — Bruno Guimaraes denied by Jay Lynch before 19-year-old Conor Haughey fired Fleetwood into the quarter-finals in one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history, as our report on the Fleetwood upset detailed.
Mikel Arteta refused to condemn the teenager publicly afterwards, but his frustration was clear. "When we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to respect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate, it was very clear," the Arsenal boss said, via PA. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher had also predicted the appeal would fail, telling Sky Sports News the kick-out showed intent — while arguing Neal's challenge itself merited a free-kick and a yellow card.
So what: Liverpool, Hull and Newcastle — but Europe stays open
Dowman will now miss Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool, the home meeting with Hull and the away game against Newcastle, either side of the international break. The suspension applies only to domestic competition, so the teenager remains available for Arsenal's Champions League match against Slavia Praha next Wednesday.
The timing still stings. With Bukayo Saka out until December and Noni Madueke and Christos Tzolis only just working back from knocks, Dowman — who has two league appearances off the bench this season, started both of Arsenal's Carabao Cup ties and scored twice against Ipswich in the third round — was a genuine option for the bench at Anfield. That door is now closed, and Arteta must solve his right-flank problem without him.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Arsenal knew this appeal was a long shot — retaliation, however provoked, is the one red card commissions almost never overturn — but they had to try, because a 16-year-old's moment of frustration has now cost him the three biggest learning experiences of his season so far. The lesson is harsh and it is real: at this level, the second man always pays. Dowman's talent is not in doubt; his education in what it costs to lose your head just got very expensive, very fast.
Was the three-match ban fair, or should a provoked reaction from a 16-year-old be treated differently? Let us know in the comments.
