Michael Oliver was the man in the middle for Wolves' clash with Arsenal on Saturday, with the referee receiving an abundance of flak for sending off Myles Lewis-Skelly in a contentious decision
Michael Oliver sparked controversy after dismissing Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly in a disputed decision on Saturday (January 25).
The Gunners were reduced to ten men just before half-time in their match against Wolves at Molineux, as Lewis-Skelly was given his marching orders for a serious foul. The incident occurred when Wolves' Matt Doherty was sprinting out of his own box on a counter-attack, only to be brought down by the 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly, with the commentary team labelling it a "disgraceful challenge".
Oliver, who had a clear view of the incident, swiftly produced a red card. However, the numerical disadvantage was later cancelled out when Wolves' Joao Gomes received a second yellow card, followed by a red, for a late challenge on Jurrien Timber with 20 minutes remaining.
Gomes was penalised for his second offence, levelling up the playing field in the process. Arsenal emerged as 1-0 victors in the match thanks to an unexpected goal from Riccardo Calafiori, who scored with a precise left-footed volley from inside the area at the 74-minute mark.
Referee Oliver faced backlash on social media after the game, particularly for his decision to send off Lewis-Skelly. However, the PGMOL have backed their official's call, pointing out that the challenge was late and the point of contact was high, reports the Express.
But who is this referee, often hailed by Premier League fans for his consistently high standard of officiating? Here, Mirror Football break it down...
Who is Michael Oliver?
Hailing from Ashington, Northumberland, Oliver started his refereeing career at the tender age of 14, swiftly climbing the ranks before joining the National List of Referees in 2007. He made history in August 2010 when he became the youngest-ever Premier League referee, overseeing a match between Birmingham and Blackburn Rovers at just 25 years and 182 days old.
Fast forward to 2025, and Oliver has presided over two FA Cup finals and a Champions League quarter-final between Real Madrid and Juventus, alongside his regular Premier League responsibilities.
A hefty salary
While the specifics of Oliver's pay packet remain under wraps, Give Me Sport has highlighted just how lucrative refereeing in the Premier League can be. It is reported that officials earn between a cool £73,191 and an eye-watering £147,258 annually, pegging Oliver's likely earnings as rather handsome.
No Newcastle games
True to his Geordie roots, Oliver - who is a self-proclaimed Newcastle United fan - is forced away from officiating any games involving his childhood club. He's been upfront in the past about steering clear of matches where the outcome could have a knock-on effect on the Magpies, such as those nail-biting relegation scuffles or contests which might benefit Newcastle indirectly.
Delving into his personal rules of engagement, Oliver told The Daily Mail: "We have to declare if we have an allegiance to any club or if a family member works at a club. You can't do any match involving that team, and I can't do Sunderland, either, for obvious reasons."
He added: "If Newcastle needed a point to survive and the team they were fighting to get above was, say, Villa, I couldn't referee Villa's game either. I wouldn't want to. It's not worth the hassle."
Speaking on ensuring fairness in football, Keith Hackett, former boss at PGMOL, has previously noted the thorough checks done each season. He explained: "At the beginning of every season the referees' background information is audited. They complete a form that includes who they support, the history of if they've played the game and with the addresses where they are residing. That gives you a picture that comes into use when you're appointing. It's about ensuring, for example, you wouldn't appoint a Sheffield-based ref for a Sheffield team."
A fellow official of a wife
While there is little known about Oliver's relationship with his wife, Lucy, the two are said to have tied the knot in June 2015. She is also a referee who has overseen games in the Women's Super League and the Women's Championship. Just as Oliver received a wealth of online criticism for his decision to send off Myles-Skelly at the weekend, Lucy has also been a victim of trolling in the past as a result of her husband's on-field decisions.
Controversy surrounded a decisive call Oliver made in 2018, awarding Real Madrid a late penalty, which led to Juventus's exit from the Champions League. This decision not only triggered attacks by the Italian press but also saw Lucy besieged by abusive messages online and her personal phone number being leaked.
Responding to these outrageous developments, UEFA released a statement through the BBC, sharing: "UEFA strongly condemns the abuse directed at Michael Oliver and his wife. We have been in contact with them to offer our support and we trust the relevant authorities to take action against those individuals who have behaved inappropriately both on and off social media."
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