Wednesday, March 5, 2025 - Referee Michael Oliver has not been assigned a Premier League match this weekend.
Oliver last officiated the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Crystal Palace
and Millwall.
He failed to stop play after Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was
kicked in the head and suffered an injury.
Oliver only showed a straight red card to Millwall goalkeeper Liam
Roberts after being asked to review the incident on the VAR pitchside monitor.
Mateta was stretchered off the field after receiving lengthy treatment.
The 27-year-old was assessed for a head injury and required specialist
care, receiving 25 stitches to patch up a severe laceration to his left ear at
St George’s Hospital.
Former Premier League referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett criticized
Oliver’s initial decision.
Hackett said: “What an appalling challenge, and I have to ask the
question—why did one of the world’s top referees fail to immediately show a red
card?
“It is, frankly, an absolute no-brainer.”
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