MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 05: Match Referee Michael Oliver watches the pitch side VAR monitor to review an incident before awarding a penalty to Bayern Munich that is scored by Harry Kane of Bayern Munich (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between FC Bayern München and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Allianz Arena on March 05, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by F. Noever/FC Bayern via Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 05: Match Referee Michael Oliver watches the pitch side VAR monitor to review an incident before awarding a penalty to Bayern Munich that is scored by Harry Kane of Bayern Munich (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between FC Bayern München and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Allianz Arena on March 05, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by F. Noever/FC Bayern via Getty Images)
English referee Michael Oliver has seen his decision to award Bayern Munich a penalty in the Champions League slammed by former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka.
Oliver has been thrust back into the spotlight following a series of high-profile incidents in recent weeks. His controversial decision to show Myles Lewis-Skelly a red card during Arsenal's clash with Wolves in January led to the referee and his family receiving threats and abuse as well as reportedly having police protection at their home.
The Premier League official then took charge of last month's fiery Merseyside derby, in which he handed out four red cards after full-time and was slammed by Liverpool boss Arne Slot for not giving a foul in the build-up to Everton's 97th-minute equaliser. Then on Saturday, Oliver allowed play to continue after Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts had kicked Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in the head.
VAR intervened and told Oliver to review his decision on the pitch-side monitor, resulting a red card for Roberts while Mateta was rushed to hospital and required 25 stitches. Now the 40-year-old, who won't be on duty in the Premier League this weekend, is at the centre of another storm after comments from Xhaka.
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The ex-Arsenal midfielder now plays for Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, who suffered a 3-0 drubbing and had a player sent off during the first leg of their all-German Champions League last-16 tie. Bayern were already cruising at 2-0 when they were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute.
Oliver pointed to the spot after VAR alerted him to a potential foul on Harry Kane by Edmond Tapsoba. Leverkusen were furious, with captain Jonathan Tah being shown a yellow card for his protests, and their anger increased when Kane converted the penalty past former Manchester United goalkeeper Matej Kovar to give Bayern a huge advantage ahead of next Tuesday's second leg.
Xhaka expressed his dismay at Oliver's decision post-match, telling a pool of reporters in the bowels of Bayern's Allianz Arena: "In the Premier League, he doesn't give that. I spent seven years there and know Michael. I'm convinced he wouldn't whistle it in the Premier League.
Do you agree with Granit Xhaka? Have your say in the comments section.
"There are so many blocks in the Premier League that today it was nothing. It's a bit disappointing from him to whistle such a penalty at this level and probably decide the game. If you give a penalty for every block, there would be so many penalties every game."
Meanwhile, Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso described the decision as 'soft'. "I don't like to speak too much about referees, but it was a soft decision," Alonso bemoaned. "We were very much in the game before that, and it changed things. But we have the second leg, and we will fight."
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