Michael Oliver will be the man in the middle when Liverpool host Nottingham Forest on Saturday - but one former Premier League referee is "concerned" he won't be around for much longer.
It has been quite the week for the 38-year-old, who on Tuesday flew to the Middle East to take charge of the Saudi Pro League clash between Al-Hilal and Christiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr. Perhaps few can blame him given his match fee amounted to £3,000, and he had to earn his money, booking 'CR7' for an impromptu headlock on an opponent.
Oliver is widely regarded as the leading referee on UK shores, and one of just two English officials to be selected for the World Cup in Qatar. But five years after another highly rated ref, Mark Clattenberg, turned his back on the Premier League to work in Saudi full time, there are now fears that Oliver could follow suit.
Keith Hackett told Football Insider that whilst Oliver's trip would have been approved by the relevant authorities, it didn't bode well. “He will have sought permission from his boss, Howard Webb – and from the FA," he said. "Webb himself was in charge of referees in Saudi Arabia for a time, so that link probably helped them out.
“Oliver has done a World Cup, and he’s in line for the next World Cup too – he’s our number one. But I’m concerned. Both Webb and Mark Clattenburg went over to the Middle East on a full-time basis. There is a risk there of the Premier League losing a world-class referee.”
Liverpool fans though, may have a different cause for concern after getting their top four hopes back on track at Leeds on Monday night. They have failed to win in all four of their Premier League games that Oliver has been in charge of this season.
Oliver, part of UEFA's elite group of referees, will also be in the middle for the potentially pivotal Arsenal vs Manchester City clash next Wednesday. The game is being widely billed as a title decider, with Mikel Arteta's men needing to avoid defeat to keep matters in their own hands.
But undoubtedly, the FA and co cannot match the sums of money on offer from the Saudi leagues. And with the influence of the Middle East ever growing on the sporting landscape, officials as well as players will inevitably be tempted.
Oliver was promoted to the Premier League in 2010. At the start of this campaign, he took charge of the 2022 UEFA Super Cup between Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid.
