Referee Michael Oliver names one of the worst decisions he has made in career
Premier League referee Michael Oliver has admitted to one of the worst decisions he has made in his career.
The 35-year-old has a long and outstanding history in the game, officiating in the top-flight since 2010.
Other highlights include the 2018 FA Cup final, which was the first to use VAR since its inception.
There was also the infamous clash between Real Madrid and Juventus, where Oliver sent Gianluigi Buffon off for dissent in the Champions League.
But one incident sticks out in his mind as one of his worst decisions in the game.
Back in 2009, Oliver was gunning to become a Premier League referee and his performance was being watched by top officials who would decide whether he would make the step up or not.
However, one call saw his bid end for another year, he has told the Daily Mail.
He said: "I was the referee for Birmingham against Plymouth on Bank Holiday Monday in April 2009 when I was hoping to get on to the Premier League list the following season.
"The No 2 in command of the referees’ organisation came to assess me.
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"After about 20 minutes, I awarded Plymouth a penalty for a challenge by keeper Maik Taylor that happened outside the box and wasn’t a foul and I sent him off.
"It was the end of my bid to make the list for another year."
As a referee, Oliver is no stranger to sickening abuse from fans but he has shrugged off the insults, insisting he has become used to it.
"You become accustomed to stick," he said.
"You have to think about it rationally. I am very much aware it’s a game, particularly with what’s going on at the moment in the world.
"It’s not that important. It’s not the end of the world if you make a mistake you don’t want to make.
"I know that if I watch Newcastle, I want them to win and everyone views things through rose-tinted glasses.
"You want your team to win and you want your team to do well and when something goes against your team, the natural reaction is that the referee is wrong.
"So you have to think rationally and everyone has a reason for criticising you.
"People have jobs to do and matches to win and goals to score and newspaper articles to write. I try to step back from it.
"You have to realise that if you’re getting criticism, it’s probably for a reason. It’s not personal. It is just a game and you do your best and if you make a mistake, you learn from it and try not to make the same mistake the week after."
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