Referee Slammed After What Happened to Arsenal’s Max Dowman vs Spain Under-19s

Fans are demanding that a referee be banned after what happened to Max Dowman during England Under-19s’ 3-3 draw with Spain on Saturday afternoon. The Arsenal youngster has been making headlines recently, having already come off the bench in two Premier League fixtures this season at just 15 years old.

Dowman won the penalty that got Viktor Gyokeres off the mark against Leeds United, further fueling the sense that Hale End has produced yet another diamond. But with such a young player breaking into the first team, naturally, comes the expectation of added protection.

Supporters, coaches, managers, and pundits alike are eager to shield Dowman from the harsh spotlight of top-flight football. Gary Neville, for example, faced heavy criticism after merely suggesting the winger might have dived during Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Leeds. Now, a referee is in the firing line for allowing Dowman’s young Spanish opponent to repeatedly foul him without punishment.

Referee in England U19 3-3 Spain U19 Slammed For Dowman Treatment

In the first half alone, Dowman was fouled 10 times. Many felt the left-back marking him, Davinchi, should have received at least two yellow cards, yet Spain avoided any dismissals. The frequency of fouls has even led to compilation videos circulating online, showing just how often Dowman was brought down. Watch below:

Eager to protect Arsenal’s star in the making, fans on social media flooded the referee with criticism. His role, after all, was not only to enforce the laws of the game but also to ensure the safety of every player on the pitch. “That’s shameful refereeing,” one X user remarked, while another added:

A third user added: “This ref deserves a life ban,” and a fourth continued: “Ref has completely lost control of the game to let some of those slide.” Elsewhere, another concluded: “I pray his career is not ended before it started with the way he is being kicked and the referee not dealing with those situations. He’s got to be protected.”