Arsenal lose Dowman appeal: FA confirms three-match ban, and Jamie Redknapp questions Arteta's reaction
An independent Regulatory Commission has dismissed Arsenal's claims of wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment, so Max Dowman misses Liverpool, Hull and Newcastle. Jamie Redknapp said Mikel Arteta should have let the 16-year-old walk to the dressing room in peace.
Arsenal's appeal has failed. The FA confirmed on Thursday 29 October that Max Dowman will serve a three-match ban for the red card he received in the Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood.
The FA's statement
The FA said an independent Regulatory Commission "has dismissed claims of both wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment for Max Dowman", and that he "will be suspended for three matches". The Commission's written reasons "will be published in due course".
Arsenal had argued both that the red card was wrong and that, if it stood, three games was too much. Both arguments were rejected.
The games he misses
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| Sun 1 Nov | Liverpool v Arsenal |
| Sat 7 Nov | Arsenal v Hull City |
| Sat 21 Nov | Newcastle v Arsenal |
Domestic red cards do not carry over to UEFA competitions, so Dowman remains available for Arsenal's Champions League game in Prague. Our earlier explainer has the background — Dowman's ban explained.
What happened at Fleetwood
Near the end of normal time, with the score 1-1, Dowman was caught by a late tackle from Fleetwood defender Harrison Neal and kicked out in response. He was shown a straight red for violent conduct. Former referee Dermot Gallagher had already said on Sky Sports that he expected the appeal to fail, because "you can see the intent".
Redknapp on Arteta
The bigger talking point now is Arteta's reaction. The Arsenal manager was seen speaking angrily to Dowman as the teenager walked past the dugouts. Asked what he said, Arteta would only say it was something they had discussed before the game.
Speaking on The Overlap, Jamie Redknapp said Arteta's response was too aggressive and that he should have kept quiet and let Dowman go to the dressing room. Redknapp also said Arsenal should have finished the game off long before the 85th minute.
Tim Sherwood took a softer line, calling it a learning curve for a 16-year-old.
Why it matters for Sunday
Dowman has played only 19 minutes of Premier League football this season, so he was unlikely to start at Anfield. But Arsenal are already short on the right: Bukayo Saka is out, Tzolis is injured and Noni Madueke is a doubt. Full team news is in our Liverpool v Arsenal preview.
FAQ
Did Arsenal win the Dowman appeal? No. An independent Regulatory Commission rejected claims of both wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment on 29 October.
How many games is Dowman banned for? Three: Liverpool (away), Hull City (home) and Newcastle (away), all in the Premier League.
Can Dowman play in the Champions League? Yes. Domestic bans do not apply to UEFA competitions.
What did Jamie Redknapp say about Arteta? That Arteta reacted too aggressively and should have let Dowman walk to the dressing room without confronting him.
