Recent reports have surfaced alleging that Premier League referee Michael Oliver was coerced into making biased decisions during the Liverpool vs. Manchester United match. According to unverified claims circulating on social media, Oliver purportedly stated, “I was forced to make that call… the wrong call wasn’t really my decision but they made me do it. I couldn’t do anything about it because I’m only an official, not the owner of the league… They wanted Manchester United to win against Liverpool by all means.”
The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, featured several controversial decisions:
- Penalty Decisions: Oliver awarded a penalty to Liverpool after a handball by Manchester United’s Matthijs de Ligt, a decision that was confirmed by VAR. However, Manchester United fans have expressed frustration over inconsistent officiating, pointing to similar incidents where their team was denied penalties. citeturn0news10
- Red Card Incident: Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot was sent off after receiving two yellow cards, a decision that drew criticism from United supporters. Some fans felt that the second yellow card was harsh and questioned the consistency of officiating. citeturn0news11
These decisions have fueled speculation and conspiracy theories among fans and pundits alike. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for match officials in English football, has not issued any official statement regarding these allegations.
It’s important to note that these claims are unverified, and no official confirmation has been provided by Michael Oliver or the PGMOL. The integrity of match officials is crucial for the credibility of the sport, and any allegations of bias or coercion are taken seriously. However, without concrete evidence, these remain speculative claims.
For a visual perspective on the controversy surrounding Michael Oliver’s officiating, you might find the following video insightful:
video Referee Scandal: Webb Suspends Oliver After Manchester United Matchturn0search1