Michael Oliver reveals he played for two Premier League clubs at youth level before becoming a referee

Michael Oliver played for two clubs in the Premier League at youth level before becoming a referee, he has revealed.

The 39-year-old has been part of the PGMOL's Select Group - the top ranking of officials - since 2010, and became part of UEFA's Elite list in 2018.

He has overseen matches in the Champions League, European Championships and the World Cup and has established a reputation as one of the top referees in the country.

The Ashington-born official, though, has been at the front and centre of headlines this week for controversial reasons after he showed a straight red card to Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly in their 1-0 win over Wolves.

The decision - which saw Lewis-Skelly adjudged to have produced an act of 'serious foul play' on Wolves' Matt Doherty around 10 yards outside the hosts' penalty area at Molineux - was criticised by ex-players, pundits and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who said he was 'absolutely fuming'.

Michael Oliver was involved in controversy during and after Arsenal's 1-0 win over Wolves (Image: Getty)

On Sunday, the PGMOL stated that Oliver had received threats and abuse over the 24 hours since his display in the Arsenal fixture, with BBC Sport reporting that these extended to death threats.

Elsewhere, away from officiating, the 39-year-old is a lifelong supporter of Newcastle United, meaning he cannot take charge of a fixture involving the Magpies, their fierce rivals Sunderland or even a team 'linked' to Newcastle - for instance, if that team and Newcastle were involved in a relegation or title battle at the closing stages of the season.

Oliver grew up in Northumberland, and attempted to first make it as a professional footballer before realising that stepping into officiating - his dad was also a referee - was the best way forward.

In an interview with Darlington College in 2019, he revealed why he chose refereeing - and the identity of the two - one now former - Premier League clubs he played for at junior level.

He explained: "I was playing for Sunderland and Newcastle [when I was younger]. I had a bit of talent.

"So I liked all the nice stuff, but I didn't like putting the hard work in as a player. That probably led to me not making it, or having a really good chance of making it. I was okay as a kid, but no real desire to push on.

"My first game in the Northern League - the best non-league level around [this area] - was back in 2003, when I was 18."

Michael Oliver refereed in the Football League before being promoted to the Select Group (Image: Getty)

While Newcastle are flying high in the Premier League, Sunderland are currently battling to return to the top flight and sit in fourth place in the Championship.

The Black Cats have followed a policy of signing young players with potential to become top stars, such as Jobe Bellingham, Wilson Isidor and Jack Clarke - the latter of whom signed for Ipswich for £15m in the summer - coupled with their exceptional academy talents.

That policy contrasted with the one the club used in their First Division promotion season of 1999/00 - when Oliver would have been 14 - with an experienced and prolific strike partnership of Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn helping to fire them to the top flight as champions.