Michael Oliver's family 'under police protection' with referee left off Arsenal's next Premier League fixture with Man City

According to The Times, specialist officers at the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) are investigating threats made to Oliver and his family after the referee decided to send off Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly in their 1-0 Premier League victory at Wolves. The report adds police patrols are operating in the vicinity of the official's family home and he has not been selected to take charge of Arsenal's game at home to Manchester City this weekend.

While Arsenal won their appeal against Lewis-Skelly's red card, no official should be subjected to this sort of abuse. The report adds the UKFPU are working with social media companies to track down those responsible for aiming threats at the 39-year-old referee.

Oliver will reportedly be in charge for the last ever league Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park next month after it was postponed due to Storm Darragh back in December. He was the referee for Arsenal's last meeting with City, during which Leandro Trossard was also sent off in controversial circumstances.

Instead of being in charge for the Arsenal match, Oliver will referee Ipswich Town's league clash against Southampton on Saturday.