Michael Oliver dropped from Premier League following controversial FA Cup incident

Referee Michael Oliver will not officiate any Premier League matches this weekend following criticism for his handling of a serious incident during the FA Cup clash between Crystal Palace and Millwall. Oliver initially failed to issue a red card to Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts after a dangerous challenge that left Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta requiring 25 stitches. After a VAR review, Oliver awarded the red card, but the delay drew significant backlash, particularly from Palace chairman Steve Parish, who condemned the challenge as life-threatening. While Oliver is absent from Premier League duty, he is scheduled to referee a Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. PGMOL sources have noted that such referee rotation is common, although Oliver's absence comes after a particularly high-profile officiating mistake. The incident has sparked discussions about referee accountability and player safety in football.