The former Manchester United defender believes Arteta’s rhetoric has intensified accusations of corruption
Gary Neville has pointed the finger at Mikel Arteta for escalating Arsenal fans’ hostility toward referees, following the abuse and death threats directed at Michael Oliver this week.
Oliver came under fire after officiating Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves, where he controversially sent off Myles Lewis-Skelly—a decision that was later overturned. The backlash from Arsenal supporters turned extreme, with the referee facing online threats.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, hosted by Sky Bet, Neville suggested that Arteta and high-profile Arsenal fans have played a major role in amplifying anger toward referees, particularly through the use of inflammatory language.
Neville: Arsenal Have Created a Siege Mentality
“They [Arsenal fans] use language like ‘corruption,’ which means they think he’s getting paid and bought off – which is obviously not the case,” Neville said.
Drawing comparisons to his time at Manchester United, Neville acknowledged that clubs sometimes foster a “siege mentality” regarding officiating decisions. However, he believes Arsenal’s current approach—especially in the age of social media—has had dangerous consequences.
“Arsenal are inflaming situations after games rather than calming them down. They’ve done that for 12 months,” he continued. “But the difference now is social media. When we were playing, we had similar feelings about referees, but we weren’t creating a social media wave that accused them of corruption or cheating.”
Neville argued that the club’s rhetoric has contributed to a culture where referees are unfairly accused of bias, making them targets of online abuse.
Calls for Oliver to Be Dropped
Former PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) chief Keith Hackett has suggested that Oliver should be temporarily removed from officiating.
“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,” Hackett said.
Despite the controversy, Oliver will continue officiating, taking charge of Ipswich vs Southampton on Saturday. However, he has been omitted from the highly anticipated Arsenal vs Manchester City clash on Sunday.
Neville Defends Oliver’s Integrity
Neville strongly opposed the notion that Oliver’s performance would be affected by external pressures.
“I hate the idea of a referee being taken off a game,” he said. “Michael Oliver is the best referee in the country, and the idea that he would go into that game on Sunday and be swayed towards Manchester City – he’s not going to do that, he’s a professional.”
As tensions between clubs, referees, and fans continue to rise, Neville’s comments highlight the growing challenges faced by officials in the modern game, where every decision is scrutinized and amplified through social media.
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