Michael Oliver (referee)
Encyclopedia
Michael Oliver is an English
football referee who officiates in the Premier League since being promoted to the Select Group of Referees
in 2010. Later that year he became the youngest-ever referee to take charge of a Premier League game. He is based in Cramlington
, Northumberland
.
. In addition he had already been the youngest-ever Football League
assistant referee
, youngest-ever Football League referee, and would also become the youngest ever fourth official in the Premier League.
The Oliver family enjoyed a unique refereeing double when father Clive took charge of the 2009 League 2 play-off final
and son Michael officiated the next day at the 2009 League 1 play-off final
.
and Portsmouth
on 9 January 2010. However, adverse weather resulted in him having to postpone the match and it was not re-arranged until after he had undergone an ankle operation which sidelined him until April.
His Premier League refereeing debut was therefore put on hold and after being promoted to the
Select Group in August 2010, his first appointment was Birmingham City
against Blackburn Rovers
on 21 August. Oliver was 25 years and 182 days old, breaking Stuart Attwell
's record as the youngest-ever Premier League referee.
and West Bromwich Albion
, during which he issued two red cards to West Brom players. The first, to Pablo Ibanez
for a foul in his penalty area, was subsequently rescinded upon appeal to the FA
.
On 13 November 2010, Oliver refereed a Championship
match between Reading
and Norwich City
. Shortly before half-time, he showed a red card to Norwich striker Grant Holt
for an apparent over-the-ball tackle on Ian Harte
, with the score at 3–1 to the visitors. The match finished 3–3 with Norwich manager Paul Lambert
being sent to the stands by Oliver for leaving his technical area. After the game, Lambert questioned Oliver's experience and strongly criticised his decision to send Holt off, while the opposition's manager Brian McDermott
also criticised the decision. The red card was later rescinded by the FA, but Lambert was charged with improper conduct for his comments.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football referee who officiates in the Premier League since being promoted to the Select Group of Referees
Select Group Referees
The Select Group is a panel of professional football referees appointed by the Professional Game Match Officials Board to officiate matches in the Premier League, as well as the Football League, FA Cup and Football League Cup...
in 2010. Later that year he became the youngest-ever referee to take charge of a Premier League game. He is based in Cramlington
Cramlington
Cramlington is a town and civil parish in the county of Northumberland, North East England, situated north of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The town's name suggests a probable founding by the Danes or an Anglo-Saxon origin, the word "ton" meaning town. The population was estimated as 39,000 in...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
.
Early career
Oliver was introduced to refereeing by his father, Clive, at the age of 14. He quickly progressed through the ranks and was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2007 and refereed the 2007 Conference National play-off final, becoming the youngest referee to officiate at Wembley StadiumWembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. In addition he had already been the youngest-ever Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
assistant referee
Assistant referee (association football)
In association football, an assistant referee is one of several officials who assist the referee in controlling a match. Two officials, traditionally known as linesmen , stand on the touchlines, while a fourth official assists administrative or other match related tasks as directed by the referee...
, youngest-ever Football League referee, and would also become the youngest ever fourth official in the Premier League.
The Oliver family enjoyed a unique refereeing double when father Clive took charge of the 2009 League 2 play-off final
2009 Football League Two play-off Final
The 2009 Football League Two play-off final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 23 May 2009, at the end of the 2008–09 season. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, and featured...
and son Michael officiated the next day at the 2009 League 1 play-off final
2009 Football League One play-off Final
The 2009 Football League One play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 24 May 2009, at the end of the 2008–09 season. The match determined the third and final team to gain promotion from League One to the Championship, and was contested by Millwall, who finished fifth during...
.
Premier League
Oliver was set to become the youngest-ever referee in the Premier League when he was appointed to the match between FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on 9 January 2010. However, adverse weather resulted in him having to postpone the match and it was not re-arranged until after he had undergone an ankle operation which sidelined him until April.
His Premier League refereeing debut was therefore put on hold and after being promoted to the
Select Group in August 2010, his first appointment was Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
on 21 August. Oliver was 25 years and 182 days old, breaking Stuart Attwell
Stuart Attwell
Stuart Steven Attwell is an English professional football referee from Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He made a prominent debut in 2008 as the youngest person ever to referee in the Premier League.-Career:...
's record as the youngest-ever Premier League referee.
Criticisms
Oliver received some criticism on 1 November 2010 after refereeing a Premier League fixture between BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, during which he issued two red cards to West Brom players. The first, to Pablo Ibanez
Pablo Ibáñez
Pablo Ibáñez Tébar , sometimes known as just Pablo, is a Spanish footballer who plays for English Football League Championship club Birmingham City as a central defender....
for a foul in his penalty area, was subsequently rescinded upon appeal to the FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
.
On 13 November 2010, Oliver refereed a Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
match between Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. Shortly before half-time, he showed a red card to Norwich striker Grant Holt
Grant Holt
Grant Holt is an English footballer, currently playing in the Premier League for Norwich City. He plays as a striker and is club captain....
for an apparent over-the-ball tackle on Ian Harte
Ian Harte
Ian Patrick Harte is an Irish international footballer who plays for Reading in the Football League Championship. Best known for his spell at Leeds United and also his ability to score goals from long range, including being a free kick specialist...
, with the score at 3–1 to the visitors. The match finished 3–3 with Norwich manager Paul Lambert
Paul Lambert
Paul Christopher Lambert is a Scottish football manager and former player who is the manager of Norwich City. He won numerous trophies as a player, winning the Scottish Cup with St...
being sent to the stands by Oliver for leaving his technical area. After the game, Lambert questioned Oliver's experience and strongly criticised his decision to send Holt off, while the opposition's manager Brian McDermott
Brian McDermott (footballer)
Brian James McDermott is an English football manager and former player.He joined Arsenal as an apprentice in 1977 and went on to play for Fulham, IFK Norrköping, Oxford United, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Exeter City and Yeovil Town in a 14-year playing career during the 1980s and 1990s...
also criticised the decision. The red card was later rescinded by the FA, but Lambert was charged with improper conduct for his comments.
External links
- Refworld.com
- Michael Oliver Referee Statistics at soccerbase.com