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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes online abuse is damaging football and more needs to be done to “kick it out” of the game.
Police are investigating threats and abuse suffered by referee Michael Oliver after he sent off Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly for a late challenge during the Gunners’ 1-0 win at Wolves on Saturday.
The full-back’s three-match ban has been overturned after an independent regulatory commission upheld Arsenal’s claim of wrongful dismissal.
In a news conference before the Champions League game against Girona on Wednesday, Arteta spoke about the need to “eradicate” abuse “regardless of whether it’s about a player, a coach or a referee”.
He said: “[It] leaves a bad taste and makes people’s lives more difficult. Let’s get it out, let’s kick it out.”
When asked if that was a message directed at his club’s supporters, Arteta said: “It’s for everyone in football, it should not be permitted. We don’t want it, we don’t need it and it certainly damages our sport. Let’s get it out.”
He also called for laws to specifically tackle online abuse, saying: “We have put in laws, measures and regulations for that kind of thing [abuse] but we haven’t done it [on social media].
“We are all talking about it, but no-one seems to be moving strongly enough and bringing people with them to get that out of the game, because it’s just unacceptable.”
