Michael Oliver has been temporarily barred from officiating matches involving two clubs following controversy over his performance in the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool on Tuesday.
Liverpool fans were critical of Oliver’s decisions in the 2-2 draw, particularly his failure to award a foul on Mohamed Salah before James Tarkowski’s injury-time winner. There was also frustration over the free-kick that led to Everton’s first goal, while some Everton supporters felt they should have been awarded a penalty for an alleged handball by Ibrahima Konaté.
After the final whistle, Oliver sent off Abdoulaye Doucouré and Curtis Jones for their roles in a post-match brawl, along with Liverpool manager Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff.
Despite the controversy, Oliver has been assigned as the VAR official for Brighton’s Premier League match against Chelsea on Monday, as per the latest PGMOL referee appointments. However, it remains uncertain when he will next officiate a Liverpool game.
Oliver is permanently prohibited from refereeing Newcastle United matches due to his lifelong support for the club. He was once part of Newcastle’s youth setup but admitted in 2019 that he lacked the commitment needed to succeed as a player.
Because of his Newcastle ties, he is also barred from officiating Sunderland games. Although Sunderland currently play in the Championship, they are having a strong season under manager Regis Le Bris and are in fourth place, meaning a potential Premier League return and a Tyne & Wear Derby could be on the horizon.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Oliver once explained: “We have to declare any club allegiances or family connections. You can’t officiate matches involving those teams, and I can’t do Sunderland either, for obvious reasons.”
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