FA panel rejects Arsenal appeal as Dowman faces three-match ban after Fleetwood red card

Max Dowman will serve a three-match ban after the FA confirmed Arsenal’s appeal against his red card in their Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town has been rejected, with a divided three-man panel ultimately upholding the decision by referee Michael Salisbury.

The teenager was dismissed in the closing minutes of Arsenal’s shock loss after retaliating to a strong challenge from Fleetwood’s Harrison Neal, kicking out in response before Salisbury produced the red card. Arsenal challenged the decision on two grounds — wrongful dismissal and clearly excessive punishment — but both arguments were turned down.

Two of the three panel members backed the referee. In the FA’s written reasons, the majority stated that Dowman “clearly attempts to forcefully kick out” and that his “forceful attempt at a retaliatory kick gave the referee a decision to make.” The majority concluded the action fell into the category of violent conduct and that the decision “was not obviously wrong.”

The panel was comprised of Udo Onwere, a former Fulham midfielder who served as head of the commission, ex-Blackburn and England winger Stuart Ripley, and former referee Ray Olivier.

One member dissented, arguing the referee had made an obvious error. “The referee had made an obvious error in sending off Max Dowman for interpreting a challenge that, whilst still unacceptable, was better characterised as adopting an aggressive attitude,” the minority view read. “To the mind of the minority there was no clear action that could be said to be one of excessive force or brutality and therefore no violent conduct.”

Despite the split verdict on the dismissal itself, all three panel members agreed unanimously that the standard three-game ban was appropriate and that no exceptional circumstances existed to reduce it. The commission also confirmed that Dowman’s age was not considered a relevant factor in their deliberations.

The red card had already prompted a strong reaction from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who addressed the incident publicly in the days following the match. Dowman, still in the early stages of his senior career, now faces a period on the sidelines as he serves out the suspension.