The cause of Michael Oliver unexpected visit to Saudi Arabia has been revealed, have a look at why he was a referee in the Saudi Pro League and his salary
The news that Cristiano Ronaldo had been booked on Tuesday night for allegedly “putting an opponent in a headlock” was bound to make headlines.
Ronaldo did sort of put one of his opponents in a headlock by leaping over him to win a header, and he was actually cautioned.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend looking like a clumsy oaf wasn’t even the most interesting aspect of the story for many keen Premier League observers.
Ronaldo leapt back to his feet as Michael Oliver, a renowned referee for the Premier League, brandished the card.
Why was Michael Oliver a referee in the Saudi Pro League 2023 and his salary
Cristiano Ronaldo wrestles a player with a flying headlock in tonight's game for Al Hilal. All #CR7 got was a yellow card from Michael Oliver 🟨pic.twitter.com/ZmJCHFX7Hk
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) April 19, 2023
What the hell is Michael Oliver doing refereeing a game in Saudi? The matrix really sending all the demons from England just to terrorise Ronaldo. No wonder Al-Nassr lost pic.twitter.com/FjxodLIgRa
— LLF (@laligafrauds) April 18, 2023
Oliver travelled to the Middle East to officiate the match between Al Halil and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, two contenders for the championship.
And The Times has now made known the rationale behind why Oliver and his squad, which also included Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett, and Darren England, were sent to the game.
Due to concerns that local officials would stumble in such a high-stress situation, the Saudi Arabian FA submitted a specific request for Oliver and crew to officiate the match.
According to the FA and PGMOL, England’s national regulatory bodies for referees, Oliver and his crew would gain from the experience. Oliver was paid 3,000 pounds for the match.
They believed it would enhance their professional development and raise the stature of English authorities abroad.
This transaction marks the first of its kind since the PGMOL was established in 2001.
After putting an opponent in a headlock during the game, Oliver issued a yellow card to an irate Ronaldo. Odion Ighalo scored twice as Al Halil defeated the opposition 2-0.
In March, Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz was flown into Saudi Arabia to oversee a match between Al Nassr and Al Ittihad, marking the last time the country used this referee loan scheme.
Each season, this can happen up to five times.
The team’s responsibilities in the Premier League will not be affected by the venture overseas, as each member will still play in matches this weekend.
The following week, Oliver, a member of the Uefa Elite Group of Referees since 2018, will preside over Arsenal’s top-of-the-table match even though
Given that Arsenal has dropped 16 games, Oliver’s announcement will not have been well received by the team’s supporters. Even though this season they have won all four games under him.
This season, Oliver has overseen 24 matches in England’s top division.