THE reason behind Michael Oliver’s shock appearance in Saudi Arabia has been revealed.
Oliver jetted to the Middle East to whistle the match between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and title rivals Al Halil.
And The Times have now revealed why Oliver and his team, containing Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett and Darren England, were placed at the game.
The Saudi Arabian FA put in a special request for Oliver and Co to ref the game over concerns local refs could crack under the pressure of such a high-octane atmosphere.
England’s referee body PGMOL, as well as the FA, considered the request and came to the conclusion the experience would be beneficial for Oliver and his team.
They believed it would serve to both broaden their experiences and aid the reputation of English officials abroad.
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It is the first time such an exchange has happened since the inception of the PGMOL in 2001.
During the game, which ended 2-0 to Al Halil thanks to a brace from Odion Ighalo, Oliver showed a furious Ronaldo a yellow card after he put an opponent in a headlock.
Saudi Arabia utilised this ref loan system as recently as March, with Spanish ref Antonio Mateu Lahoz flown in to oversee Al Nassr’s match with Al Ittihad.
It can be done as many as five times in a season.
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However, the venture overseas will not impact the team’s duties in the Premier League, with each of them involved in matches in the coming weekend.
Indeed, Oliver – a member of the Uefa Elite Group of Referees since 2018 – is also pencilled in to oversee Arsenal’s top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City next week.
This news will not have been greeted too warmly by Gunners fans, with Arsenal having lost 16 games Oliver has whistled. Though they have won all four under him this campaign.
Oliver has overseen 24 games in England’s top flight this season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
