Why Arsenal failed with Max Dowman red card appeal as FA release statement

Arsenal youngster Max Dowman "gave the referee a decision to make" after being sent off against Fleetwood Town last month, a Football Association (FA) commission has found.

Dowman was given his marching orders for kicking out after a heavy challenge from Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal.

As reported by Standard Sport, Arsenal decided to appeal the red card and, as per the BBC, submitted two videos as evidence to the FA's regulatory commission, along with a letter from secretary Zayna Perkins.

Max Dowman was shown a red card in Arsenal’s loss to Fleetwood Town

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Dowman’s sanction was determined by a three-person Independent Regulatory Commission, who have released the written reasons for their decisions.

The majority view accepted that Dowman had received a forceful challenge that he did not see coming, but the two commission members felt he had the option to "step out of this challenge without any reaction but he turned back towards Neal and his forceful attempt at a retaliatory kick gave the referee a decision to make".

The minority view was that Dowman's actions were petulant rather than an act of violent conduct, and "did not constitute a challenge made with excessive force or brutality.”

The forward's age was rejected as a relevant factor in deliberations and the commission could find no "truly exceptional" reason to alter the suspension.

While Arsenal felt a three-game ban was "clearly excessive", the appeal was unanimously rejected by the commission members, who also noted that the threshold for a "clearly excessive" appeal is a high bar to reach.