FA Cup final referee Michael Oliver’s wife Lucy has revealed that the family needed police protection after he sent off Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
Lucy, a referee in the FA Women’s Super League, called the police after a man came to their door and shouted vile abuse through the letterbox.
Oliver’s decision to award Real Madrid a last-minute penalty incensed Buffon, who was sent off for manhandling the referee.
Michael Oliver's wife, Lucy, reveals they got death threats after he sent off Gianluigi Buffon
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Share 75 sharesOliver and his family were also subjected to extensive abuse online.
Lucy, 28, said: ‘With that Juventus game, I was watching it on television at home. Then someone came to my house and shouted, “Your husband is a c***” through the letterbox.
‘I was in the house on my own, I could see those tweets, then I heard that. I was crying my eyes out and had to call the police.
‘During the next four or five days I was never on my own, it was a mixture of the police always being there or a member of Michael’s family.
‘And the Premier League were unbelievable, absolutely fantastic. Everyone was so supportive and, thankfully, that was the only person who came round to our house.’
Oliver sent Buffon off for his furious reaction at the awarding of a late Real Madrid penalty
Buffon was furious with the original decision and chased down Oliver before confronting him
Lucy and husband Michael received death threats after he officiated the Champions League tie
Lucy, a university lecturer, then quit social media before returning.
‘I came off social media for two weeks and have now changed my settings so I won’t receive notifications unless it’s someone I am following. I miss out on some really lovely things because people do say nice stuff, people can be lovely. Yet you are talking about one nice tweet — and 99 telling you how rubbish you are.
‘I find that when English fans are being really personal they don’t tag you. Then your name starts trending and it is like “What have I done now?”
‘Ultimately the storm will pass — and thankfully it did.’ She added of Oliver’s appointment to Saturday's FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United: ‘It is testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment Michael puts into his career.
‘He deserves it so much, I couldn’t be prouder.’
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