GARY NEVILLE has sensationally claimed Mikel Arteta is partly to blame for fuelling Arsenal fan’s stinging criticism of referees.
Following the Gunners’ clash against Wolves, it was revealed that match official Michael Oliver had been subjected to vile death threats and abuse online.
Oliver, 39, had been at the centre of the controversial decision to send off Myles Lewis-Skelly for a cynical foul following a trip against Matt Doherty on the edge of the Wolves penalty area.
The Premier League had said the teenager had been sent off for “serious foul play”, but the suspension was later rescinded.
However, Oliver was subjected to vile abuse on social media after the game, which was won 1-0 by Arsenal.
A PGMOL statement at the time said: “We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver following the Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal fixture.”
In the following days, Arteta, 42, blasted the attack on Oliver and urged governing bodies to kick “hatred” out of football.
But ex-Manchester United star Neville, 49, has accused the Gunners boss of being one of the main architects of riling up the abusers.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, he said: “They [Arsenal fans] use language like corruption, which means they think he’s getting paid and bought off – which is obviously not the case.
“We [at Manchester United] lived in a club which created a siege mentality about the referees.
“Arsenal are doing a bit of that as well – there’s no doubt that what Arsenal do is inflame the situation after the game rather than calm it down, they’ve done that for 12 months – but we can’t say that’s wrong having played in the dressing room that we did.
“The difference is now with social media, when we were playing back in the day and doing similar things with referees, we weren’t inflaming what would be a cause of corruption on social media.
“Now you have a sway of Arsenal’s anger, which comes from the players and from Mikel Arteta, and prominent fans.
“You now have a social media wave now which goes towards [allegations of] corruption and cheating.
“In our day, we couldn’t have that much influence – everyone was at home without a phone, and didn’t have Twitter.”
Arteta’s full comments on the abuse saw him say: “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.
“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.
“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?
MARK HALSEY: Questions have to be asked of VAR after Lewis-Skelly sending off… here’s what SHOULD have happened
By Mark Halsey
VAR Darren England should have recommended a review as soon as referee Michael Oliver showed Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card for his challenge on Wolves’ Matt Doherty.
An official must decide whether the challenge was careless or reckless—a careless challenge results in only a free kick, a reckless challenge warrants a yellow card—or worthy of a red card.
When a player lunges at an opponent with one or two feet from the front, side, or back, endangering the player’s safety with excessive force or brutality, it must be sanctioned with a red card.
I saw it as a reckless challenge worthy of a yellow, not a red.
So why did Darren not recommend a review? Once the red card was shown, the VAR should have intervened.
If Michael had the opportunity to review the challenge, I’m sure he would have changed his mind, rescinded the red card, and issued a yellow.
As for Arsenal fans’ views that Michael is biased against them, I’m not buying into that. You can never question the integrity of a match official and Michael is one of our best referees.
Officials cannot get everything right and that is why we have VAR to help. So questions have to be asked of Darren.
With the second yellow for Joao Gomes after catching Jurrien Timber on the ankle, you could argue that was a worse challenge than the Lewis-Skelly one
“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.
“But the most important thing we can do is create an environment that’s much better at a social level: one that’s healthier, that’s nicer.
“Reward things that are not only winning, that when people make mistakes they have the chance to make amends.”
Despite the shocking abuse, Oliver made an immediate return to action as he whistled Barcelona‘s Champions League clash against Atalanta.
Oliver is down to return to action in the Premier League next weekend to officiate Ipswich vs Southampton.
He has also been chosen as the referee to take charge of the final Goodison Park Merseyside derby on February 12.
That comes despite former PGMOL chief, Keith Hackett, suggesting Oliver should take a step back for a while to let the situation cool down.
Hackett said: “I’d be admitting this morning that this is a major error, that you don’t expect the alleged number one referee to make.
“He’s on top of the incident. I think he’s too close and so I think he requires operational advice.
“I’d be saying to Michael Oliver, I think you need a rest and I think you’re not going to see another game in the Premier League for a couple of weeks.”
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