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Keith Hackett has been left stunned by the latest developments on Michael Oliver in the wake of the controversial red card he showed to Arsenal ace Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the referee should be taking time off after the incident to reflect, rather than continuing to work such a packed schedule.
Oliver has been the subject of a huge amount of scrutiny after leaving many stunned for sending the Gunners left-back of for a challenge on Wolves defender Matt Doherty on Saturday.
The Arsenal man has since had the red card overturned on appeal, and Hackett is surprised by what is coming next for the referee after seeing that decision reversed.
Hackett fumes as Oliver set for swift return after Arsenal controversy
Since issuing a red card to Lewis-Skelly at Molineux, Oliver has been the subject of a worrying amount of extreme online abuse.
Despite that, the referee is set for a quick return action in the wake of what happened in that clash between Arsenal and Wolves.
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On Wednesday night (29 January), Oliver is set to be in Spain to take charge of Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Serie A side Atalanta.
Hackett though does not agree with the official taking charge of a match, particularly one as high profile as that, so soon after what happened at Molineux.
Speaking to Football Insder, the former referee said:
“Are our top referees getting worked too hard?
“I would suggest that they are and in particular our two UEFA Elite Referees Oliver and [Anthony] Taylor.
“I suggested after Oliver’s howler that he should be stood down for a couple of weeks in order to receive some operational advice. Instead he travels to Spain to officiate Barcelona.
“He returns to Heathrow Friday morning. Then travels to his home in Newcastle. Then it’s off to Ipswich to officiate the weekend’s Premier League game!!”
While Barcelona are already guaranteed a place in the last 16 of the Champions League, Atalanta may still need a result to avoid the knockout round play-offs.
Arsenal themselves are also in Champions League action with a trip to Girona, where only defeat and a major goal difference swing would see them miss out on an automatic place in the last 16.
In other news, Arsenal have decided whether or not to sign Marcus Rashford in the January transfer window.
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Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has expressed his shock at the steps taken by current referee Michael Oliver after his controversial decision to show a red card to an Arsenal player in a recent match.
In a post-match interview, Hackett stated that Oliver’s decision was “harsh and unnecessary” and that he was surprised by the lack of hesitation in reaching for the red card. He went on to say that Oliver’s actions could have serious repercussions for the player and the team, and that he should have shown more restraint in such a crucial moment.
Hackett, who has been critical of refereeing decisions in the past, called on the authorities to review Oliver’s performance and ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future. He also urged referees to show more empathy and understanding towards players in high-pressure situations, and to think carefully before making such game-changing decisions.
The incident has sparked a debate among fans and pundits alike, with many questioning Oliver’s judgement and calling for greater accountability from referees. Only time will tell what the consequences of this decision will be, but one thing is for sure – Keith Hackett is not impressed.
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- Keith Hackett
- Michael Oliver
- Arsenal
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- Referee
- Shocked reaction
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