PA Media/dpa
London
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said football must “kick out” the abuse suffered by referees after Michael Oliver was targeted in the aftermath of their win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Oliver was the subject of attacks made online, including death threats against his family, after he showed a red card to Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly at Molineux on Saturday.
The decision, which was not overturned by VAR nor was the referee directed to review the incident pitchside, has since been repealed by an independent commission, meaning the 18-year-old will not serve a ban.
Lewis-Skelly was shown a straight red card by Oliver for a trip on Wolves’ Matt Doherty, with the offence deemed at the time to have constituted serious foul play.
It led to what the referees’ body, Professional Games Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), described as “abhorrent abuse” directed against Oliver, who is widely considered to be one of the world’s best referees.
“Every time I talk about this topic, regardless of whether it’s about a player, a coach or a referee it doesn’t matter,” said Arteta ahead of his team’s Champions League game away to Girona.
“We really have to work harder to eradicate this part of the game that brings nothing but bad stuff, leaves a bad taste and makes people’s lives more difficult. Let’s get it out, let’s kick it out.
“It’s for everyone in football, it should not be permitted. We don’t want it, we don’t need it and certainly damages our sport. Let’s get it out.”
A statement from PGMOL on Sunday said: “We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver following the Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal fixture.
“No official should be subject to any form of abuse, let alone the abhorrent attacks aimed at Michael and his family over the past 24 hours.” After the game, Arteta said he was “absolutely fuming” though he did not reference Oliver directly.
Asked how he believed online abuse can be eradicated from football, he said: “First of all, it’s about spending more time making the right decisions, with the right people to get it out.
Arsenal are third in the Champions League table and with 16 points are all but through to the last-16.
