Champions League: Uefa condemns abuse of referee Michael Oliver
English ref’s wife Lucy has also received threatening texts following the Real Madrid vs. Juventus clash last week
A week after Michael Oliver broke Juventus hearts and sent off Gianluigi Buffon in their dramatic Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid tempers are still running high in Turin.
Consequently Uefa has issued a statement defending the Premier League referee and his wife Lucy, and urging the authorities to act.
Mrs Oliver is a Women’s Super League referee, who also officiates men’s non-league football, and according to BBC Sport she has “received threatening texts after her mobile number was posted on social media following the game”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The match ended in extraordinary fashion with Michael Oliver awarding Real Madrid a stoppage-time penalty after Lucas Vazquez was fouled by Juventus’s Medhi Benatia. In the ensuing protest from the Juventus players, Buffon lost control of himself, unleashing a tirade against Oliver that led to his red card.
The veteran Italian goalkeeper continued his abuse in the post-match press conference, saying of the Englishman: “To award such a doubtful, or super doubtful penalty, just ahead of the final whistle and destroy the work of a team who gave absolutely everything, you have to have a trash bin instead of your heart.”
Buffon was unapologetic on Saturday, despite the online abuse aimed at the Olivers, telling reporters he “stands by all of it”.
That disappointed Gary Lineker, who posted a message on Twitter for the goalkeeper: “These vituperous attacks on Michael Oliver and his wife are repugnant. Big admirer of Buffon but his behaviour since has been inflammatory and out of order. Oliver was doing his job and hard to argue against his decisions. Understand the emotion but time to defuse it, Gianluigi.”
There has been no response.
Lucy Oliver seems to have borne the brunt of the abuse, with her Twitter account bombarded by obscene message, prompting Northumbria police to tell BBC Sport: “We are aware of threatening messages being posted on social media. This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and those writing the messages need to be aware that they could be committing a criminal offence.”
Now Uefa has acted on the unacceptable abuse, issuing a statement last night saying: [We] strongly condemns the abuse directed at Michael Oliver and his wife. We have been in contact with them to offer our support and we trust the relevant authorities to take action against those individuals who have behaved inappropriately both on and off social media.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 3, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - presidential pitching, wavering convictions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
The 'Swiss model' shaking up the Champions League
In The Spotlight Uefa says the new format offers 'greater excitement' but critics say boredom is guaranteed
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The European Super League: a 90th-minute reprieve?
Why everyone's talking about A European court ruling has potentially breathed new life into the breakaway football league
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Uefa Champions League 2022-2023 guide: group stage draw and key dates
feature Liverpool face Rangers while Man City’s Erling Haaland has a reunion with Dortmund
By Mike Starling Published
-
Uefa Champions League final: blame game begins for chaos in Paris
feature Liverpool call for an investigation as Uefa are accused of a ‘narrative of lies’
By Mike Starling Published
-
2022 Uefa Champions League final: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid preview, predictions and TV
feature Everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s showpiece in Paris
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Karim Benzema: Panenkas, hat-tricks and a Ballon d’Or?
Why Everyone’s Talking About Real Madrid’s French striker was sensational yet again in the Champions League
By Mike Starling Published