For this weekend’s Premier League games, the official line-up of referees has been released, and to the surprise of many, Michael Oliver will not be taking charge of any match as the on-field referee. Instead, the renowned referee will be in the VAR room, handling video assistant referee duties, reported by Daily Post.
Just earlier in the week, Oliver was the referee for the match between Bournemouth and Southampton, which ended in a 3-1 victory for Bournemouth. His presence on the pitch during that game saw him manage what was largely a straightforward affair, with no major controversies to report.
Michael Oliver To Be In charge of VAR
However, this weekend, Oliver will be monitoring the action from behind the screens as the VAR for the fixture between Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
This decision comes shortly after Oliver found himself at the centre of a dramatic Premier League clash involving Manchester City and Arsenal. That encounter, which ended in a 2-2 draw, was full of high tension.
Oliver made headlines during the match when he issued a second yellow card to Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard for delaying the restart of play. This is a point of emphasis for PGMOL this season, as they are clamping down on time-wasting and ensuring that matches flow smoothly.
While Michael Oliver is one of the Premier League’s most experienced referees, it seems this weekend, he’ll be working behind the scenes rather than on the pitch.
