Arsenal: Mikel Arteta calls for major football change to remove 'hatred' after Michael Oliver abuse
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta calls for major football change to remove 'hatred' after Michael Oliver abuse
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Mikel Arteta says football must work harder to rid “hatred” from the sport in the wake of the abuse referee Michael Oliver has received. Oliver has been the subject of abuse after he sent off defender Myles Lewis-Skelly during Arsenal’s win at Wolves on Saturday.
Lewis-Skelly was shown a red card by Oliver, which was was upheld by VAR Darren England, after he tripped Wolves defender Matt Doherty. The decision to send off Lewis-Skelly was met with almost universal criticism from pundits and commentators, while the teenager’s three-game ban was overturned by an independent regulatory commission on Tuesday.
Oliver has been targeted by abuse since the weekend, with referees’ body PGMOL confirming the police are investigating. Arteta has spoken out against abuse in football earlier this month, in the wake of Kai Havertz and his wife being targeted online, and he has called for more work to be done after this last episode with Oliver.
“For everyone in football, you should not be permitted [to do that],” he said. “We don’t want it, we don’t need it and it certainly damages our sport. Let’s get it out. “Regardless of whether it is a player or a coach, a referee - it does not matter. We have to really work harder to try to eradicate that part of the game that brings nothing but bad stuff, bad taste and it makes people’s lives more difficult. Let’s get it out, let’s kick it out.
