Oliver's controversial decision to send off Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 43rd minute sparked outrage among some fans. Lewis-Skelly was shown a red card after catching Wolves defender Matt Doherty above the ankle while breaking up a counter-attack near the Wolves box. The decision was reviewed and upheld by video assistant referee (VAR) Darren England.
The backlash quickly escalated, leading to what PGMOL described as "abhorrent attacks" on Oliver and his family. "We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver," PGMOL said in a statement. "No official should be subjected to any form of abuse, let alone the abhorrent attacks aimed at Michael and his family over the past 24 hours."
The refereeing body confirmed that multiple investigations have been launched. "We are supporting Michael and all those affected, and we are determined to tackle this unacceptable behavior," the statement added.
The Premier League also issued a statement strongly condemning the abuse. "No official should be subject to any form of abuse. We will continue to support Michael, PGMOL, and all investigations."
The game saw another red card late in the second half when Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes was dismissed, further adding to the tension. Despite being down to 10 men, Arsenal managed to secure the win through a goal from Riccardo Calafiori, who scored the only goal of the match.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta backed Oliver's decision to send off Lewis-Skelly, calling it "so obvious that today you don't need my words." However, the decision has drawn criticism from some former referees and pundits, further fueling the post-match debate.
PGMOL expressed concern about the growing trend of abuse toward match officials. "Sadly, this is not the first time a match official has been forced to deal with threats in recent times," the organization noted.
