- Michael Oliver, who is one of the most experienced referees in the Premier League, is barred from officiating two clubs
- Oliver was the Video Assistant Referee during Manchester City’s game against Liverpool on November 9
- Oliver disallowed Virgil Van Dijk’s goal in the 38th minute, which has sparked much controversy online
Michael Oliver and Chris Kavanagh are currently at the centre of controversy following their performance in Manchester City’s game against Liverpool.
Source: UGC
Kavanagh was the centre referee, while Oliver was the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) as Manchester City thrashed the defending champions 3-0.
Goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku did the damage as Pep Guardiola’s side reduced Arsenal’s lead at the top to just four points.
Why Van Dijk’s goal vs Man City was disallowed
However, the trajectory of the game could have been different had Virgil van Dijk’s goal been allowed.
The Liverpool skipper headed home shortly after Haaland’s offside, but it was chalked off after Andrew Robertson was adjudged to be standing in an offside position and blocking Gianluigi Donnarumma’s view.
“The referee’s call of offside and no goal to Liverpool was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Robertson in an offside position and deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper,” read the official Premier League explanation.
Source: Twitter
Liverpool manager Arne Slot criticised the decision.
“It’s not to say that for me it was clear and obvious for me that it was the wrong decision that this goal was not allowed, but I will not say that because of that we’ve lost the game,” he said via the club’s website.
The two clubs Michael Oliver can’t officiate
Amid the controversy, Oliver’s past comments on how match officials are selected for duty have now come to light. The 40-year-old has built his reputation as one of the best referees in England, with FIFA and UEFA regularly using him for high-profile matches.
He is a Newcastle United fan and thus not allowed to officiate Magpies’ games.
“We have to declare if we have an allegiance to any club or if a family member works at a club. You can’t do any match involving that team, and I can’t do Sunderland, either, for obvious reasons,” he told the Daily Mail.
Sunderland and Newcastle share a heated rivalry in the Tyne-Wear derby and thus, he is also not allowed to officiate a Sunderland game.
The two sides will face each other on December 14 for the first time since Sunderland earned promotion back to the league.
Liverpool launch complaint with PGMOL
In a related report, Liverpool have submitted a complaint, disputing Van Dijk’s disallowed goal.
The Reds have contacted the head of referees in England to raise concerns about how the laws of the game were interpreted.
Robertson ducked away from an offside position, which led to the cancellation of the goal.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
