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Topics: Premier League, Liverpool, Everton, Michael Oliver, Champions League, VAR, Paris Saint-Germain
Luke Davies
Topics: Premier League, Liverpool, Everton, Michael Oliver, Champions League, VAR, Paris Saint-Germain
UEFA have decided if referee Michael Oliver will be used during this week’s Champions League fixtures.
Oliver, 39, was referee for the chaotic final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park last Wednesday.
Everton captain James Tarkowski scored a stunning 98th-minute volley to level the scores at 2-2 in front of a raucous atmosphere.
Shortly after, Toffees’ midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure appeared to taunt the Liverpool fans gathered in the away section to the dismay of Reds man Curtis Jones, who engaged in a tussle with the Mali international.
Oliver gave both players a second yellow card before brandishing a red. But the drama did not stop there.
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Liverpool boss Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, were both 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 a similar situation.
In a press conference last Friday, the Liverpool boss admitted that “emotions got the better” of him.
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“If I could it differently, I would love to,” said Slot. “I would hope to do it differently next time.
“There were many things that happened in extra-time that led me to being emotional, but there is a process now which I have to respect so I won't go into details (into what was said).”
Fans were keen to see if Oliver would be taken out of the firing line for the weekend’s Premier League fixtures.
Although he didn’t referee any games during gameweek 25, he was in place as the video assistant referee (VAR) during Brighton’s 3-0 victory against Chelsea at the AMEX on Friday evening.
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Then, on Saturday, he was the VAR during Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Ipswich Town.
But when will he return to pitch?
Well, UEFA have announced that Oliver will be the referee during the all-French clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Brest in the second leg of the Champions League play-offs at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening.
‘Les Parisiens’ come into the fixture three goals ahead on aggregate after a convincing victory in last week’s first leg in Brittany.