Back to the Premier League Newsfeed

Social media firms contacted over Michael Oliver abuse as police launch investigation into sickening messages sent to Premier League referee after Myles Lewis-Skelly red card

The UK Football Policing Unit is leading the investigation into the abusive messages directed at Michael Oliver – and has already spoken to social media companies as it seeks to quickly trace those responsible.

Oliver became the target of online trolls after his controversial decision to send off Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly on Saturday.

Refs’ body PGMOL said it was ‘appalled’ by the ‘abhorrent attacks’, which are thought to have included threats against Oliver’s young family and claims that his address was known. They contacted the UKFPU who launched their own probe and have wasted little time in attempting to hunt the culprits down.