The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has expressed its outrage over "abhorrent" threats and abuse directed at referee Michael Oliver and his family following a controversial red card decision in Arsenal's match against Wolves.
The incident occurred during Arsenal's 1-0 victory when Oliver showed a straight red card to Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly in the first half. The dismissal was given for "serious foul play" after Lewis-Skelly made contact with Matt Doherty as Wolves attempted to launch a counter-attack following an Arsenal corner.
The decision sparked immediate controversy, with Arsenal players protesting what appeared to be an innocuous challenge. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was particularly vocal in his disagreement, stating he was "absolutely fuming" in his post-match comments.
In response to the subsequent abuse directed at Oliver, the PGMOL issued a strongly-worded statement Sunday evening: "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. The police are aware, and a number of investigations have commenced. We are supporting Michael, and all those affected, and are determined to tackle this unacceptable behaviour."
The statement also noted that this is not an isolated incident, adding, "Sadly, this is not the first time a match official has been forced to deal with threats in recent times. We will continue to support all investigations."
Arsenal are planning to appeal the red card decision, hoping to avoid a suspension for Lewis-Skelly. The team's immediate focus now turns to their upcoming fixtures, with a Champions League clash against Girona followed by a crucial Premier League encounter with Manchester City.
The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing issue of abuse toward match officials in football, with the PGMOL taking a firm stance against such behavior while working with authorities to address these serious concerns.
