Michael Oliver has been prohibited from officiating matches involving one Premier League team as the PGMOL investigates abuse directed at him following a controversial decision during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday.
The experienced referee sent off Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly in the first half for serious foul play after a challenge on Matt Doherty. The decision sparked widespread debate among fans and drew criticism from former players and pundits, including Alan Shearer on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his anger, saying he was “absolutely fuming” with the call. However, some fans acknowledged the decision might have been harsh but defensible after reviewing a new angle of the incident.
On Sunday, the PGMOL issued a statement confirming an investigation into “abhorrent” threats made against Oliver and his family after the match at Molineux. The statement revealed that the police are involved, multiple investigations are underway, and the organization is supporting Oliver and others affected by the situation.
It remains uncertain if Oliver will officiate future Arsenal matches this season due to the ongoing investigation and the threats he has received.
Like other referees in the Premier League, Oliver is already restricted from officiating games involving certain clubs. A Newcastle United supporter, the Ashington-born referee is barred from officiating matches involving Newcastle or their rivals Sunderland.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Oliver explained, “We have to declare if we have an allegiance to any club or if a family member works at a club. You can’t do any match involving that team, and I can’t do Sunderland, either, for obvious reasons.”
This policy also applies to other referees. For instance, Peter Bankes and Darren Bond do not officiate games involving Liverpool or Everton due to their Merseyside roots, while Craig Pawson, a Sheffield United fan, is prohibited from refereeing matches involving either the Blades or Sheffield Wednesday.