Michael Oliver finds himself at the center of controversy following his officiating performance in the recent Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool. His decisions during the intense 2-2 draw on Tuesday sparked outrage among Liverpool supporters, who believed he should have awarded a foul on Mohamed Salah before James Tarkowski’s dramatic injury-time equalizer. Frustration also mounted over the free-kick that led to Everton’s first goal, while some Everton fans felt they were unfairly denied a penalty for an alleged handball by Ibrahima Konaté.
As emotions boiled over after the final whistle, Oliver took decisive action by sending off Abdoulaye Doucouré and Curtis Jones, both of whom were involved in a post-match altercation that escalated into a mass brawl. Adding to the chaos, Liverpool manager Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also shown red cards for their conduct toward the match officials. The fallout from these decisions has only intensified debates over officiating standards in the Premier League, with both sets of supporters feeling aggrieved by key moments in the match.
Despite the controversy, Oliver remains involved in officiating duties, with his next assignment placing him in the VAR booth for Brighton’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Chelsea on Monday night. His return to on-field refereeing in a Liverpool match, however, remains uncertain, as scrutiny over his decisions continues. While speculation surrounds when he will next oversee a game involving the Reds, there is one club he is permanently restricted from officiating.
A lifelong Newcastle United supporter, Oliver is prohibited from refereeing any match involving the Magpies. His connection to the club runs deep, as he was once part of Newcastle’s junior setup before ultimately pursuing a career in officiating. Reflecting on his time at St. James’ Park, he admitted in a 2019 interview that he possessed some talent as a player but lacked the dedication required to progress. Due to his strong ties to Newcastle, Oliver is also barred from officiating matches featuring Sunderland, their historic rivals.
Sunderland currently competes in the Championship, where they have enjoyed an impressive season under new manager Régis Le Bris. Sitting in fourth place, they remain in contention for promotion, which raises the possibility of the Tyne-Wear Derby returning to the Premier League next season. Should Sunderland secure a top-flight return, Oliver’s officiating restrictions would once again come into focus.
In a past interview, Oliver shed light on the Premier League’s policy regarding referee allegiances, explaining that officials must declare any personal connections to a club. He stated, “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.” This rule ensures neutrality in officiating and prevents any potential conflicts of interest.
As the debate over Oliver’s recent decisions continues, his exclusion from certain matches underscores the Premier League’s commitment to maintaining fairness in officiating. While his performance in the Merseyside derby remains a hot topic, his longstanding restriction from officiating Newcastle and Sunderland fixtures highlights the measures in place to uphold the integrity of the game.
