Michael Oliver is banned from officiating two clubs as Premier League make major call after Merseyside derby

Michael Oliver has been temporarily barred from officiating matches for two specific clubs due to the controversy surrounding his performance in the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, which took place on Tuesday. His officiating decisions during the match have been heavily scrutinized, leading to this restriction.

During the heated 2-2 draw, Oliver faced strong criticism from Liverpool supporters for several contentious decisions. Fans believed he should have called a foul on Mohamed Salah in the build-up to Everton’s dramatic injury-time winner, scored by James Tarkowski. As a result, Oliver was widely criticized for his officiating throughout the match.

Additionally, concerns were raised regarding his decision to award Everton a free kick before they scored their first goal. While Liverpool fans were displeased with some of his calls, Everton supporters also voiced their frustration, arguing that their team should have been awarded a penalty for a potential handball incident involving Ibrahima Konaté.

Tensions escalated further after the match, leading to chaos on the field. Oliver issued red cards to both Abdoulaye Doucouré and Curtis Jones for their roles in instigating a mass brawl after the final whistle. Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, were also shown red cards, adding to the controversy.

Despite being sidelined from officiating for certain teams, Oliver will still be involved in Premier League matches in a different capacity. He has been assigned as the video assistant referee (VAR) for Brighton’s upcoming home game against Chelsea on Monday night. This was confirmed as part of the latest round of referee appointments announced by the British Football League.

As of now, it remains uncertain when Oliver will be permitted to officiate another match involving Liverpool. However, he is currently prohibited from officiating games for any Premier League club.

One notable restriction on Oliver’s assignments stems from his long-standing support for Newcastle United. Due to this personal allegiance, he is not allowed to referee any match featuring the Magpies. In a past interview, he revealed that he had some talent as a football player in his youth but admitted that he lacked the dedication required to progress further. He was even part of the youth setup at St. James’ Park during his early years.

His connection to Newcastle also prevents him from officiating matches involving Sunderland, their fierce local rivals. Although Sunderland is currently competing in the Championship, they are enjoying a strong season under their new manager, Régis Le Bris. Sitting in fourth place, there is a real possibility that they could earn promotion, potentially setting up a highly anticipated Tyne-Wear derby in the Premier League next season.

In a previous statement to the Daily Mail, Oliver explained the strict regulations that referees must follow:

“We are required to declare if we have any allegiance to a club or if a member of our family works at a club. Not only are you unable to officiate matches involving that team, but in my case, I am also prohibited from officiating Sunderland for obvious reasons.”