Gary Neville backs Michael Oliver and accuses Mikel Arteta of influencing Arsenal fans to claim refs are 'corrupt'
Gary Neville has accused Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta of 'influencing' his own fans amid the ongoing Michael Oliver saga.
Oliver was the subject of mass controversy after sending off Arsenal left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly for serious foul play on Matt Doherty during their 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.
The decision was supported by VAR but overturned on appeal by an independent commission, with the FA confirming on Tuesday that Lewis-Skelly's three-match suspension had been removed.
Arteta was one of many who were critical of the decision made by Oliver at the time, stating that he was 'absolutely fuming' and that it was 'obvious' it was not a red card.
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There were some fans that felt the decision was understandable if harsh, given the point of contact between Lewis-Skelly and Doherty and that the Arsenal defender appeared to have little desire to win the ball with his tackle.
A day later, the PGMOL released a statement condemning 'threats and abuse' directed at the 39-year-old official by supporters following the fixture.
The Daily Mail reported that one person sent a death threat to Oliver and his two-year-old daughter.
Arteta condemned the abuse in his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal's Champions League trip to Girona, telling reporters: "We have to really work harder to try to eradicate that part of the game that brings nothing but bad stuff, bad taste and it makes people's lives more difficult. [That message is] for everyone in football.
"It should not be permitted. We don't want it, we don't need it, it can only damage our sport, so let's get it out.
"One of the most important things we can do to evolve is create an environment that's much better at a social level, one that's healthier, that's nicer, in which we can reward things that are not only winning, that when people make mistakes we have the chance to make amends."
But during the latest episode of The Overlap's Stick to Football, Sky Sports commentator and pundit Neville accused the Arsenal manager of 'influencing' fans with his behaviour.
He said: "He's [Oliver] been taken off the Arsenal vs Manchester City, hasn't he? I think that's completely wrong, that.
"The idea he would go into that game on Sunday and think he's going to be swayed towards City... he's not going to do that. He's a professional guy.
"He's the best referee in the country, and he's now being bombed off games because he made a mistake?
"They [Arsenal fans] use language like corruption, which means they think he's getting paid and bought off. Which is absolutely not the case.
"We lived in a club [Manchester United] which created a siege mentality about the referees. Arsenal are doing a bit of that as well.
"There's no doubt that what Arsenal do is inflame the situation after the game rather than calm it down. They've done that for 12 months. But we can't say that's wrong, having played in the dressing room that we did.
"The difference is now with social media, when we were playing back in the day and doing similar things with referees, we weren't inflaming what would be a cause of corruption on social media.
"Now you have a sway of Arsenal's anger, which comes from the players and Mikel Arteta, and prominent fans.
"You now have a social media wave which goes towards [allegations of] corruption and cheating. In our day, we couldn't have that much influence. Everyone was at home without a phone, and didn't have Twitter."
Gary Neville was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet
Topics: Gary Neville, Arsenal, Michael Oliver, Mikel Arteta
Ryan Smart