We examine all details about English referee Michael Oliver and his wife Lucy, who gave a controversial red card to Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly
Arsenal found themselves at the heart of yet another contentious red card decision as Michael Oliver handed Myles Lewis-Skelly a dismissal just before halftime. Having controlled much of the first half without finding the back of the net, the match took a dramatic turn when referee Oliver issued the red card. The sending-off came for serious foul play, but the decision was met with considerable disbelief, as many felt it was overly harsh.
He then ended up sending off Wolves’ Joao Gomes after a second yellow card in the second half as Arsenal managed to eek through a 1-0 win on the day.
Similar incidents throughout the season had typically resulted in just a yellow card, raising questions about the consistency of officiating. This marked the fourth time this season that Arsenal were reduced to ten men, making them the team with the most red cards in the Premier League this campaign with Oliver dishing out his eighth red card against an Arsenal player.
Who is Premier League referee Michael Oliver , bio, age, height, family, dad, wife, children, salary, net worth and stats
Michael Oliver has sent of 8 Arsenal players in his career!
It is not a coincidence anymore… pic.twitter.com/SRnlfBOhna
— The Odegaard Era (@OdegoatEra) January 25, 2025
Michael Oliver, an English professional football referee, has become one of the most prominent names in officiating, particularly in the Premier League and international tournaments. Born on February 20, 1985, in Ashington, Northumberland with his height at 5 feet 8 inches, Oliver’s introduction to refereeing came early, with his father Clive, a former referee, playing a significant role in his career.
At just 14, he began his refereeing journey and quickly rose through the ranks, debuting as the youngest referee at the prestigious Wembley Stadium during the 2007 Conference National play-off final. Oliver’s breakthrough into top-level football came when he was appointed to the Premier League in 2010, becoming the youngest referee in its history at 25 years old.
His impressive rise continued, earning him a FIFA badge in 2012, which allowed him to officiate major international competitions, including the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup final. His international recognition grew, and by 2018, he was promoted to the UEFA Elite Group of Referees. Notably, in 2018, he was at the center of a dramatic UEFA Champions League quarter-final between Real Madrid and Juventus. In the final minutes of the match, Oliver awarded a controversial penalty to Real Madrid, leading to a heated confrontation with Juventus players, particularly veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who received a red card.
He continued to shine on the global stage, refereeing key matches in the 2021 FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Leicester City, and in 2022, he was appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup. His consistent performances earned him a place as one of the English referees selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a prestigious achievement in any referee’s career. Known for his calm demeanor, sharp decision-making, and authority on the field, Michael Oliver continues to be one of the leading referees in world football.
Some of the highest-paid Premier League referees includes Michael Oliver, who earns 200,000 pounds annually with his net worth at $1 million.
He received around $3.8k for officiating a match between Al-Hilal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia on 18 April 2023.
Clive and Michael became the first father and son to feature on the National List of Match Officials back in 2004-05. Michael married his sweetheart, Lucy Oliver, in 2015 who is a female football referee who advocates for gender equality in refereeing. She is a Level 3 referee and FA-qualified match official and aa former sports lecturer. She also served as Sunderland College’s sports development officer, helping 16 to 25-year-olds become active.
She and Michael have two children together.
His full career record and stats can be found here.
Date of birth/Age: 20.02.1985 (39)
Place of birth: England Ashington
Citizenship: England England
Residence: Northumberland
1st league debut: 21.08.2010
FIFA referees: since 2012
MICHAEL OLIVER HOW IS THAT A STRAIGHT RED CARD❌🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/l3i5pmjGwA
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) January 25, 2025
know all details about Oliver:
- Full name: Michael Oliver
- Born: 20 February 1985
- Age: 39-years-old
- Birthplace: Ashington, Northumberland, England
- Wife: Lucy Oliver