Max Dowman red card: Arsenal appeal, three-match ban and the games he could miss, including Liverpool
Arsenal are appealing the red card the 16-year-old received at Fleetwood. If it stands, Max Dowman misses Liverpool, Hull and Newcastle in the Premier League, but he can still play in the Champions League in Prague. Former referee Dermot Gallagher says the appeal will fail.
Arsenal's Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood left one more problem behind it. Max Dowman, the 16-year-old Hale End academy player, was sent off for violent conduct late in normal time, and Arsenal have decided to appeal. Here is what we know.
What happened
With the score at 1-1 near the end of normal time, Dowman was caught by a strong late challenge from Fleetwood defender Harrison Neal. He kicked out at Neal in response, and the referee showed him a straight red card. Fleetwood went on to win the shootout 5-3 — see Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal: the full report.
The ban and the appeal
A red card for violent conduct carries a three-match ban in English football. According to football.london and Sky Sports:
- Arsenal must submit their appeal documents to the FA by 1pm on Thursday 29 October.
- The club hope to have a decision before Sunday's game at Liverpool.
- Domestic bans carry across the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, so the games he misses will be in the Premier League.
Under FA rules, an appeal judged to be "frivolous" can also lead to an extra match being added to the ban, so clubs do not appeal lightly.
The games Dowman would miss
| Date | Match | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 1 Nov, 16:30 UK (00:30 Mon Beijing) | Liverpool v Arsenal | Premier League |
| Sat 7 Nov | Arsenal v Hull City | Premier League |
| Sat 21 Nov | Newcastle v Arsenal | Premier League |
Red cards in domestic football do not carry over to UEFA competitions, so Dowman is still eligible for Arsenal's Champions League trip to Prague, which falls between the Hull and Newcastle games.
What the referees' expert says
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports he does not expect the appeal to succeed.
"I don't, because of the aggressiveness of Dowman, and you can see the intent. I think it will fail," he said. "He knows what he's doing. He almost brings his knee up in a kicking action."
Gallagher did agree with Arsenal on one point: he said they should have had a free-kick for Neal's tackle, and that Neal should have been booked.
What Arteta said
Mikel Arteta did not criticise the referee after the game. "I haven't seen it back, and with the camera you can't really see what happens," he said. "The decision was made by the referee, and that's it."
Why it matters
Dowman has only played 19 minutes of Premier League football this season, according to injury and availability trackers, so he was not likely to start at Anfield. The bigger issue is his discipline: it was his second red card this month, after he was also sent off for England's Under-19s during the international break.
Arsenal already have a thin right side at Anfield. Bukayo Saka is out with a thigh problem — see how long Saka will be out — and Dowman was one of the young options behind him. Our Liverpool v Arsenal preview has the full team news.
FAQ
How long is Max Dowman banned for? Three matches for violent conduct, unless Arsenal's appeal succeeds.
Will Max Dowman play against Liverpool? Not if the ban stands. Liverpool away on 1 November is the first of the three games. Arsenal want a decision on the appeal before then.
Can Dowman play in the Champions League? Yes. Domestic red cards do not count in UEFA competitions, so he is available for the game in Prague.
Why was Dowman sent off? He kicked out at Fleetwood defender Harrison Neal after Neal's late tackle on him, near the end of normal time in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
