Embattled Premier League Ref Oliver banned!

Michael Oliver, the Premier League referee at the center of controversy following the Merseyside derby, has been banned from officiating.

His ban covers two clubs, Newcastle and Sunderland.

The decision, made by the Premier League, is due to Oliver’s allegiance to Newcastle United.

Oliver, 39, has been a Premier League referee since 2010 and has officiated numerous high-profile matches.

However, his performance in the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool triggered rife condemnation.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Everton’s James Tarkowski scoring a dramatic equalizer in injury time.

Oliver’s decisions during the match, including the awarding of a free-kick prior to Everton’s first goal and the non-award of a foul on Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, have been questioned by many.

The referee also sent off Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff after the final whistle, as well as Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure.

The Premier League has confirmed that Oliver will not officiate any matches involving Newcastle United or Sunderland, due to his allegiance to the Magpies.

This decision is in line with the Premier League’s rules on referee impartiality.

Oliver will be on VAR duty for Brighton’s Premier League clash against Chelsea on Monday night, and will also be involved in Aston Villa’s match against Ipswich Town on Saturday.

The FA is currently reviewing the incidents that occurred during the Merseyside derby, and may take further action against Slot and other individuals involved.

About Michael Oliver 

Born on February 20, 1985, in Ashington, Northumberland, his father, Clive Oliver, a former Football League referee, introduced him to refereeing at the age of 14.

Oliver holds multiple records, including becoming the youngest Football League assistant referee, youngest Football League referee, and youngest fourth official in the Premier League.

He made his Premier League debut at 25 years and 182 days old, officiating the match between Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers on August 21, 2010.

Oliver has refereed several high-profile matches, including the 2014 FA Community Shield, 2018 UEFA Champions League quarter-final, and the 2021 FA Cup Final.

He was appointed to the FIFA list in 2012 and has officiated in various international competitions, including the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Oliver’s achievements have earned him recognition as one of the best referees in Premier League history. He is married to Lucy Oliver, a female football referee, and they have two children.

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