The PGMOL have announced that "a number" of police investigations are underway following "abhorrent" abuse towards Michael Oliver after Arsenal's 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Oliver was the man in the middle for the Premier League contest at Molineux, where he controversially sent off Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly for serious foul play in the first half.
The 18-year-old caught Matt Doherty as Wolves attempted to break following an Arsenal corner and was given a straight red card to the bewilderment of Gunners fans and players, but his decision was backed up by the VAR room.
Replays showed that Lewis-Skelly's studs were up as the teenager made contact with Doherty's leg, and the Hale End graduate is now set to miss upcoming matches against Manchester City, Newcastle United and Leicester City as he serves a three-game suspension.
Oliver subsequently became the target of fan uproar online, and Mikel Arteta told the media that he was "absolutely fuming" with the decision, which he hopes will be overturned without an appeal.
PGMOL "appalled" by "abhorrent" Oliver attacks
© Imago
Following a wave of "abhorrent attacks" against Oliver and his family online, the PGMOL have confirmed in a statement that the police are investigating several incidences of alleged abuse.
"We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver following the Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal fixture," the governing body said. "No official should be subject to any form of abuse, let alone the abhorrent attacks aimed at Michael and his family over the past 24 hours.
"The police are aware, and a number of investigations have commenced. We are supporting Michael, and all those affected, and are determined to tackle this unacceptable behaviour.
"Sadly, this is not the first time a match official has been forced to deal with threats in recent times. We will continue to support all investigations."
Despite losing Lewis-Skelly to a first-half red card, Arsenal left Wolves' turf with a slender win to their name thanks to a Riccardo Calafiori strike, just a few minutes after Joao Gomes was also dismissed for two bookable offences.
A look at Arsenal's four red cards this season
© Imago
Debate will continue to rage over whether Lewis-Skelly's red card was deserved; at first glance, the punishment appeared nonsensical, but it is easy to see why Oliver made the decision he did when looking at the still images.
The teenager's sending-off was the fourth red card Arsenal have received this Premier League season - more than any other team - but their first for serious foul play, having had two for delaying a restart and one for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Oliver was also overseeing proceedings at the Etihad when an already-booked Leandro Trossard was sent off for kicking the ball away, three weeks after Declan Rice suffered the same fate against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Then came the William Saliba incident at Bournemouth, as the Frenchman was adjudged to have committed a last-man foul on Evanilson while the Brazilian raced through on goal.
Arsenal fans' frustrations with Oliver go as far back as last season, as the referee also failed to send off Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic for a seemingly clear second bookable offence at the Emirates, but such "abhorrent" abuse against the 39-year-old has no place in the game.
Ben Knapton
