Mikel Arteta condemns abuse of referees after Michael Oliver targeted: ‘It damages our sport’
Mikel Arteta condemns abuse of referees after Michael Oliver targeted: ‘It damages our sport’
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Oliver was subjected to ‘abhorrent abuse’ after a controversial dismissal of Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, a red card that has now been overturned. Mikel Arteta said football must "kick out" the abuse suffered by referees after Michael Oliver was targeted in the aftermath of Arsenal's win against Wolves.
![[Referee Michael Oliver, pictured, has faced abuse in recent days]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/28/12/622da5f3f3fad72e770b170d623615f0Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM4MTUxNTQx-2.78799150.jpg)
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decision, which was not overturned by VAR nor was the referee directed to review the incident pitchside, has since been repealed by an independent commission, meaning the 18-year-old will not serve a ban.
![[Mikel Arteta has called for people to do more to combat abuse on social media]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/18/21/f004d193dda66cda4fa448f394fc2db5Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MzIwOTQw-2.78729016.jpg)
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.
