September 23rd 2024.
There has been a lot of criticism directed towards Premier League referee Michael Oliver lately. During Sunday's match between Manchester City and Arsenal, Oliver received backlash for "failing to do the basics" during a crucial moment in the game. The two top teams faced off, resulting in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium. The match was filled with intense moments and heated controversy.
The game started with an early goal from City's star player, Erling Haaland, but Arsenal quickly responded with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel. However, their momentum was halted when they were reduced to ten men just before half-time. Despite their best efforts, the Gunners eventually succumbed to a stoppage-time equaliser from John Stones.
While much of the conversation following the match centered around Leandro Trossard's red card for kicking the ball away, not enough attention was given to the events leading up to Arsenal's first goal. In particular, Kyle Walker was frustrated that the goal was allowed while he was still being ushered towards the referee for a quick chat during a break in play. Even City manager Pep Guardiola was outraged, breaking a chair in frustration. Former referee Keith Hackett shared his belief that City had every right to feel aggrieved by Oliver's decision.
Hackett explained in an article for The Telegraph, "I can understand the anger of the Manchester City players regarding the circumstances surrounding Arsenal's first goal. Oliver had pulled Kyle Walker out of position to talk to him and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, presumably addressing their behavior after awarding a free kick to Arsenal. In basic refereeing, if a player is pulled out of position for a talk, they must be given the opportunity to return before the game is restarted. Oliver failed to do so, and the situation was made worse when the free kick was taken from the wrong position."
At the end of the match, Guardiola further expressed his frustration, stating that he would instruct his players to act differently in the future to avoid a similar incident. He said, "My concern is when the referee asks Kyle to go 20 miles away from his position. Next time, I will tell my players that when the referee asks for a talk, say 'No, no, come here to me,' and we will not move."
It's clear that this match has caused a lot of controversy and left many people questioning Oliver's decisions. As the debate continues, we can only hope that referees will be more mindful of allowing players to return to their positions before restarting the game.
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