Jamie Redknapp defends Michael Oliver after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card in Arsenal win

Jamie Redknapp has condemned the ‘unacceptable’ and ‘disgraceful’ abuse directed 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 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 picked up the ball and burst forward with pace, only to be hauled 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.

Sky Sports pundit 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.

According to BBC Sport, 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 Sky Sports.

‘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 calculated challenge, it’s not a great challenge, and I actually think it will get overturned.’

Redknapp believes Oliver is a ‘phenomenal referee’, who officiates every match with ‘integrity’.

‘Given a bit more time, Michael Oliver might have probably only given a yellow this time. But that [abuse], for me, is just so unacceptable,’ he added.

‘Everyone makes mistakes but they’re honest mistakes. We can count on one hand how many he’s made in his career.

‘He’s a phenomenal referee. I always think that every match he does, he does it with integrity.’

Redknapp went on: ‘If I was to play one more game in my life then he would be the referee that I’d want to do it because I think he’s that good.’

‘It’s disgraceful behaviour and I certainly hope that whoever is giving this abuse gets found out.

‘It’s like people on social media, cowards that go on there and start having a go, nameless people, and it’s just not acceptable.’

Arsenal youngster Lewis-Skelly faces a three-match ban if the decision is not overturned, meaning the 18-year-old is ruled out of the club’s clashes with Manchester City, Newcastle and Leicester as it stands.

Asked if Arsenal intend to appeal the decision after Riccardo Calafiori scored a second-half winner for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta told reporters: ‘That’s for the club to decide what the best decision is. I think it’s that obvious, maybe we don’t even need to.

‘It is that clear that I leave it to you guys.

‘I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you because it is that obvious.

‘I don’t think my words are going to help.’

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