Michael Oliver not given Premier League fixture after controversial red card

Michael Oliver will not referee a Premier League game this weekend.

Oliver took charge of Crystal Palace's 3-1 fifth round win over Millwall on Saturday that saw Jean-Philippe Mateta hospitalised.

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Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts' shock challenge saw him accidentally kick the Palace striker in the head when attempting to claim the ball in the eighth minute of the first half.

Oliver didn't initially show Roberts a red card and only did so after a VAR review, with Mateta requiring 25 stitches to his head.

Now he not been appointed to any of this weekend's Premier League fixtures.

He will also not act as a fourth official or VAR either.

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This is not unusual, though. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited [PGMOL] said that 'referee rotation is normal' and 'more noticeable' if high-profile.

However, Oliver will referee on Wednesday night in the Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.

Former Palace owner Simon Jordan criticised Roberts during his show on 90mins.

"Do fellow professionals have a duty of care to one another? Possibly. Do I think it was a pretty diabolical challenge? Yeah, it was.

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"Did it ruin the game potentially for Millwall? Possibly. Because ultimately it takes their goalkeeper, they go down to ten, it makes it less of a competition.

"It was a rash, it was a rash challenge. I don't know the malice, only the man himself can know the intent side of things.

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"There's a part of me that thinks there's a cowardly way to go as a goalkeeper, but I suppose if you're 10 yards out of your box, you can't go with your hands.

"But the fact of the matter, you're going with your feet that high, there's only really one likely outcome, or two, you're going to get the ball and be lucky to get it, or you're going to get a player.

"And he got a player. And it was a poor challenge."

Millwall fans, though, rallied behind their keeper, who has been the subject of abuse, by applauding him in the eighth minute in their Championship game against Bristol City.

Days after the incident, those at The Den could be seen on their feet to clap.

It has also been revealed on Wednesday that Liverpool boss Arne Slot launched an x-rated outburst at Oliver after the Merseyside derby draw to Everton.

Slot, who was handed a two-game suspension and £70,000 fine, said: "If we don't win the league, I'll f***ing blame you."

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