UEFA has made a decision regarding referee Michael Oliver’s involvement in this week’s Champions League matches.
The 39-year-old officiated last Wednesday’s heated Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, where Everton captain James Tarkowski dramatically equalized in the 98th minute with a stunning volley, securing a 2-2 draw in a charged atmosphere.
Shortly after the goal, Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure appeared to taunt Liverpool fans, provoking a reaction from Curtis Jones. The two players clashed, leading Oliver to issue them both a second yellow card, followed by a red.
The drama escalated when Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, were also sent off after a heated exchange with Oliver. Slot, 46, has since been charged by the FA and has until Wednesday to respond, with Hulshoff, 50, facing similar disciplinary action.
In a press conference last Friday, Slot admitted he let his emotions get the better of him. “If I could do it differently, I would,” he said. “There were many things that happened in extra time that led to my reaction, but I have to respect the process, so I won’t go into details.”
Fans were eager to see if Oliver would be removed from officiating duties following the incident. While he did not referee any matches during Premier League gameweek 25, he served as the VAR for Brighton’s 3-0 win over Chelsea on Friday and Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on Saturday.
As for his return to on-field refereeing, UEFA has confirmed that Oliver will officiate the second leg of the Champions League play-off between Paris Saint-Germain and Brest at Parc des Princes on Wednesday. PSG hold a three-goal advantage after their dominant first-leg win in Brittany.
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