Referee Michael Oliver and his wife have been the subject of abuse and even death threats, including text messages, according to reports.
The official was targeted after awarding a last-gasp penalty to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final against Juventus.
He also sent off captain Gigi Buffon, who bitterly criticised the referee in public after the match.
Although Oliver does not have a presence on social media, his wife – also a referee – does and her Twitter account has been inundated with abusive messages.
Referee Michael Oliver and his wife have been the subject of abuse and even death threats, including text messages, according to reports.
The official was targeted after awarding a last-gasp penalty to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final against Juventus.
He also sent off captain Gigi Buffon, who bitterly criticised the referee in public after the match.
Although Oliver does not have a presence on social media, his wife – also a referee – does and her Twitter account has been inundated with abusive messages.
Even worse, police are investigating after someone posted her mobile phone number online, leading to threatening texts and even insults shouted through her letter box at home.
Calls have been growing for Juventus and above all Buffon to apologise for their very harsh language in the wake of the penalty decision, encouraging their pseudo fans to calm down.