Dermot Gallagher has issued a passionate defence of Michael Oliver after he was subject to abuse following the decision to send off Myles Lewis-Skelly during Arsenal's 1-0 win over Wolves.

Referee Oliver decided to give Lewis-Skelly, 18, a straight red card in the 43rd minute at Molineux on Saturday. The Gunners left-back stopped Matt Doherty from starting a counter-attack from the edge of his own penalty area.

Video assistant referee Darren England, aided by Adrian Holmes, the assistant VAR, checked and confirmed the decision, deeming the challenge serious foul play. Replays suggested that Lewis-Skelly caught his opponent on the top of the Achilles, causing Doherty to topple to the floor.

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In the aftermath of Oliver's decision, he has since received alleged social media abuse. PGMOL released a statement on Sunday saying that it is "appalled" at the level of vitriol directed at Oliver.

Following online abuse of Oliver, a PGMOL statement read: "We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver following the Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal fixture. 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."

Now, former Premier League referee Gallagher has criticised the level of abuse hit at Oliver, even if he thought the decision to send Lewis-Skelly off was incorrect.

He told Sky Sports: "It upset me so much because of no fault of my own I was very ill when I was 21 and I was forced into refereeing because I couldn't play football. I was too small, too tiny and it wouldn't let me play football. That was 45 years ago and I've enjoyed every single day bar one of my life as a referee since.

"But I look back at what I have seen overnight and I can look at it hand on heart and say my dad, if I was 21 again, would say you're not going to do that (go into refereeing).

"That happens to Michael Oliver, who is one of the best referees in the world. You're not having a go at Oliver, you're stopping a lifeblood coming through behind."

Stephen Warnock added: "This is an opinion and his opinion, whether it's right or wrong, you do not have the right to go on social media and vent your anger in that way.

"We get things wrong all the time - it's only our opinion. We receive all kinds of things on social media. People think they've got a right to do it, it's just society and the way it is at the moment. If they stood in a room with that person and confronted them, they wouldn't say a word. It's cowardly, it's pathetic."