Jamie Redknapp defends Michael Oliver after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card in Arsenal win
Jamie Redknapp has condemne the ‘unacceptable’ and ‘disgraceful’ abuse directe at referee
Michael Oliver following Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial sending off in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves.
One of the major talking points of the สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน weekend’s Premier League action took place in the closing stages of the first half at Molineux after an Arsenal corner was headed away to safety.
Matt Doherty picke up the ball and burst forward with pace, only to be haule down by. Lewis-Skelly, who was shown a straight red card – a decision which was upheld by video assistant referee Darren England.
Given the position of the foul and the apparent innocuousness of the challenge, the call left many fans, pundits and ex-officials baffled, with former PGMOL boss Keith Hackett taking to social media to slam the ‘disastrous’ decision.
Micah Richards, formerly of Manchester City and England, meanwhile, said that Lewis-Skelly’s sending. Off was the worst decision he had ever seen in the history of the Premier League.
Some of the criticism Oliver has faced has undoubtedly crossed the line, though, and police have launched an investigation into ‘threats and abuse’ aimed at the 39-year-old online in the wake of Saturday’s contest.
Some of the messages have contained death threats, as well as sinister threats to make the official’s home address public.
‘It’s absolutely disgraceful. We’re getting to the point now with referees where if you’re right, you’re right and if you’re wrong, you’re corrupt,’ ex-Liverpool, Tottenham and England midfielder Redknapp said on.
‘If we get to that point then we won’t have any young referees that ever decide to want to go and be a referee in the game. I think it’s disgraceful behaviour.
‘Michael Oliver is far and away the best Premier League referee we’ve got. I don’t think it’s even close.
‘Do I think it’s a red card? No. And I’d hate for this to come up but it almost feels like a bit of an amber. It’s a calculate challenge, it’s not a great challenge, and I actually think it will get overturne.’