Despite the ongoing fallout from the controversial red card decision in Arsenal’s victory over Wolves, Premier League referee Michael Oliver has been assigned to officiate a Champions League match this week.

Oliver, 39, faced significant backlash after sending off Myles Lewis-Skelly for a tackle on Matt Doherty, which VAR later upheld as 'serious foul play.' The decision has sparked widespread criticism, and Oliver has reportedly received online abuse and death threats.

In response, both the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have issued statements condemning the abuse.

A Premier League spokesperson said:

"The Premier League strongly condemns the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver. No official should be subject to any form of abuse. We will continue to support Michael, PGMOL, and all investigations."

Similarly, PGMOL released the following statement:

"We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver following the Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal fixture. No official should endure any form of abuse, let alone the abhorrent attacks aimed at Michael and his family over the past 24 hours.

"The police have been informed, and multiple investigations are underway. We stand with Michael and all those affected by this unacceptable behaviour. Unfortunately, this is not the first instance of match officials facing such threats in recent times. We will continue to support all investigations to address this issue."

Despite the controversy, Oliver is set to officiate the Champions League clash between Atalanta and Barcelona on Wednesday evening. He will be joined by Premier League colleagues Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring as assistant referees, with Andrew Madley serving as the fourth official. Australia's Jarred Gillett will oversee VAR duties, assisted by Darren England.

It remains unclear whether Oliver will officiate any Premier League matches over the weekend. However, former Premier League referees’ chief Keith Hackett has suggested that Oliver should step back temporarily. Speaking to talkSPORT, Hackett said:

"I’d be advising Michael Oliver to take a break. I don’t think he should be officiating a Premier League game for a couple of weeks. That would be the first step. Ultimately, the referee must take responsibility, but I’m also clear that VAR failed to do its job in this instance. This was a clear and obvious error, and it was not serious foul play."

The debate surrounding Oliver’s decision highlights ongoing concerns about refereeing standards and the role of VAR in ensuring fairness and accuracy in football.