‘Just unacceptable’ – Mikel Arteta blasts attack of referee Michael Oliver as police probe abuse after Arsenal red card
‘Just unacceptable’ – Mikel Arteta blasts attack of referee Michael Oliver as police probe abuse after Arsenal red card
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MIKEL ARTETA blasted the attack of referee Michael Oliver and urged governing bodies to kick “hatred” out of football. Police are investigating abuse suffered by Oliver after he controversially sent off defender Myles Lewis-Skelly in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Wolves last weekend.
![[Mikel Arteta at an Arsenal press conference.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ff890cd7-9032-4cd2-87f3-12b49da3638e.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Gunners full-back has since had his three-match ban wiped out by an independent committee after the club filed an appeal on Tuesday morning – despite the player missing the news due to being ASLEEP on the plane. But ref Oliver continues to have his house watched by police following alleged threats against him and his two-year-old daughter – leaving the PGMOL “appalled”.
![[Referee Michael Oliver at a Premier League match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-referee-michael-oliver-premier-966791493_dabade.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
And Arsenal boss Arteta – who recently slated the online hate aimed at his player Kai Havertz – said: “Regardless of whether it is a player or a coach, a referee — it does not matter. “We shouldn’t be here with this hatred, these things we see, because they affect everyone and in the end, they take away the joy of this sport.
![[Referee showing a soccer player a red card.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arsenals-myles-lewis-skelly-shown-966571064_805c58.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
“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. “For everyone in football. You should not be permitted [to do that]. We don’t want it, we don’t need it and it certainly damages our sport.
![[Arsenal player Myles Lewis-Skelly receives a red card for fouling a Wolverhampton Wanderers player.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-red-card-myles-lewis-966655626_c3599d.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
“We are talking about it, but no one seems to be moving strongly enough because it’s just unacceptable. Why haven’t we done it?. “We’re always putting a lot of emphasis on where football is going in the next five, ten years; on the rules, and all that sort of thing.
![[Arsenal's Kai Havertz reacts to missing a scoring opportunity.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arsenals-kai-havertz-reacts-missing-966563673.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
