BREAKING NEWS 》Michael Oliver is banned from refereeing one Premier League team despite long career

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 sent Myles Lewis-Skelly off

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.

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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.