Arsenal have been slapped with a 65,000 pound fine for improper conduct following Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card during the match against Wolves last month.
The midfielder was dismissed in the 43rd minute, which sparked frustration from manager Mikel Arteta. After the decision, several Arsenal players surrounded referee Michael Oliver.
Despite the red card, Arsenal managed to secure a 1-0 victory, thanks to a goal from Riccardo Calafiori, and Lewis-Skelly’s red card was overturned three days later.
“An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a 65,000 pound fine on Arsenal in relation to the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 25 January,” the English Football Association stated.
“It was alleged that Arsenal failed to ensure their players did not behave in an improper way around the 43rd minute, and the club subsequently admitted to this charge.”
The fine was handed down following a hearing by the regulatory commission, which later released its written reasoning.
The statement also included a letter from Arsenal, in which the club emphasized that “the players were civil and not aggressive,” “were not gesticulating or accusatory,” and “they did not behave in a way which was offensive, violent, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting or provocative.”
However, the FA responded by stating that “there were, at times, nine AFC players in very close proximity to the referee,” and added that the red card “being overturned on appeal does not justify the reaction and affords no mitigation.”
The FA also mentioned that Arsenal’s position at the top of the league provided no grounds for mitigation.
Arsenal currently hold the most red cards in the Premier League this season, with four. Arteta’s side are seven points behind league leaders Liverpool.
