Gary Neville has jumped to the defence of Michael Oliver after Ian Wright said it was correct for the under-fire referee not to be given Arsenal vs Manchester City
Ian Wright has been accused of fuelling Arsenal’s Michael Oliver conspiracies by Gary Neville and Roy Keane.
Oliver was slammed by Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta and the club’s fans for giving youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card against Wolves last weekend. The decision was ratified by VAR at the time but has since been overturned on appeal.
Arsenal have been charged for failing to control their players, who surrounded Oliver in the aftermath of the contentious dismissal. Meanwhile, the Northumberland official has been the victim of vile online abuse and has even received death threats.
Oliver has been under police protection, with specialist officers from the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) now investigating the abuse, reports The Times. The 39-year-old will be on duty this weekend, but instead of refereeing the standout game between the Gunners and Manchester City, he will oversee Ipswich Town vs Southampton.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Gunners legend Wright supported the decision not to give Oliver the Arsenal-City game, pointing out he hadn’t issued a red card to a City player in 47 games.
However, former Manchester United duo Neville and Keane were having none of that and suggested Wright was fuelling suggestions of bias among Arsenal fans. Wright said: “He’s had 47 games with City and never sent a player off once. It’s a fact, Gary, it’s there for people to see.”
Neville responded: “You’re now adding to it. 47 games with City? City probably haven’t made a tackle in those games because they had 80 per cent of the ball.”
Wright then brought up Oliver’s controversial decision not to award a penalty against City for Jeremy Doku’s high challenge on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister earlier this season. He said: “Didn’t I see Doku in Mac Allister’s chest?”
Keane then piped in, saying: “Oh here we go! Oh Wrighty.” Neville defended Oliver, adding: “I hate the idea of a referee being taken off a game. He’s the best referee in the country.
“The idea that he would go into that game and think he’s going to be swayed towards City… He’s not going to do that. He’s a professional guy.”
Wright then insisted: “I’m not saying that but the fans have got every right to feel how they feel, what they read and what they see.”
Peter Bankes will instead take charge of Sunday’s showdown at the Emirates. Victory for City would bring them within three points of Arsenal, who are already six behind league leaders Liverpool having played a game more.
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