Gary Neville has sensationally claimed that Mikel Arteta is partly the fault of feeding the stabbing criticism by Arsenal Fan on referees.
After the collision of the Gunners against Wolves, it was revealed that Match Official Michael Oliver was subject online to despicable death threats and abuse.
Oliver, 39, had been in the middle of the controversial decision to send Myles Lewis-Skelly for a cynical error after a journey against Matt Doherty on the edge of the Wolves Penalty Area.
The Premier League had said that the teenager had been sent away for “serious false game”, but the suspension was later withdrawn.
After the game, however, Oliver was subjected to common abuse on social media, which was won 1-0 by Arsenal.
A PGMOL statement said at the time: “We were shocked by the threats and abuse aimed at Michael Oliver after the Wolverhampton Wanderers against Arsenal match.”
In the following days, Arteta, 42, shot the attack on Oliver and urged administrative bodies to kick “hatred” from football.
But ex-manchester United Star Neville, 49, has accused the Gunners boss of being one of the most important architects of increasing the abusers.
Speaking on the stick to football podcast, you offered by Sky Bet, he said: “She [Arsenal fans] Use language such as corruption, which means that they think he is being paid and purchased – which is clearly not the case.
“We [at Manchester United] Lived in a club that created a siege mentality about the referees.
“Arsenal also does a bit of that – there is no doubt that what Arsenal does the situation after the game is instead of calming it down, they have done that for 12 months – but we cannot say that it was played wrong in the dressing room that we did.
“The difference is now with social media, when we played back during the day and did similar things with referees, we were not confused what a cause of corruption on social media would be.
“Now you have a wave of the anger of Arsenal, which comes from the players and from Mikel Arteta, and prominent fans.
“You now have a social media wave that is now going to [allegations of] Corruption and cheating.
“In our time we couldn't have much influence – everyone was at home without a phone and had no Twitter.”
Arteta's full comments about the abuse saw him say: “Regardless of whether it is a player or a coach, a referee – it doesn't matter.
“We should not be here with this hatred, these things we see because they meet everyone and eventually they take away the joy of this sport.
“We really have to work harder to try to eradicate that part of the game that nothing but bad things brings bad taste and it makes people's life more difficult. Let's get it out, let's kick it out.
'For everyone in football. You should not be allowed [to do that]. We don't want it, we don't need it and it certainly damages our sport.
“We are talking about it, but nobody seems to be moving strong enough because it is just unacceptable. Why didn't we do it?
“We always put a lot of emphasis on where football goes in the next five or ten years; about the rules, and all things like that.
“But the most important thing we can do is create an environment that is much better at a social level: one that is healthier is more fun.
“Reward things that not only win, that when people make mistakes, they get the chance to make up for it.”
Despite the shocking abuse, Oliver immediately returned to action while he whistles Barcelona's Champions League collision against Atalanta.
Oliver is looking for active in the Premier League next weekend to officiate Ipswich vs Southampton.
He was also chosen as a referee to take the lead on the final Goodison Park Merseyside Derby on 12 February.
That is despite the former PGMOL chef, Keith Hackett, who suggests that Oliver should take a step back for a while to let the situation cool down.
Hackett said: “I would admit this morning that this is a big mistake, that you do not expect the alleged number one referee to make.
“He is on top of the incident. I think he is too close and so I think he needs operational advice.
“I would say to Michael Oliver, I think you need rest and I think you will not see any other game in the Premier League for a few weeks.”
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