Michael Oliver had a challenging role as the referee during the intense 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The 39-year-old had to manage several tense moments throughout the game, including a controversial decision to show Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard a second yellow card just before halftime for delaying the game by kicking the ball awa
The second half saw the tension rise further, with aggressive clashes between City’s Erling Haaland and Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães.
Oliver managed most of the game’s heated moments well, but one key decision sparked criticism and could not be reviewed by VAR. This incident occurred in the first half, before Trossard’s sending-off.
Oliver allowed Arsenal to take a quick free-kick, which led to Riccardo Calafiori’s equalizer in the 22nd minute.
The controversy arose when Oliver had called Manchester City defender Kyle Walker over for a warning, pulling him away from his defensive position about 45 yards out.
Instead of waiting for Walker to return to his spot, Oliver immediately signaled for the game to resume, giving Arsenal an advantage with extra space in the City defense.
Gabriel Martinelli quickly set up Calafiori, who scored a beautiful curling shot to level the game.
Although Arsenal’s swift play was clever, Oliver’s decision to allow the quick restart while Walker was out of position drew criticism. Many felt that he should have given City a few more seconds to recover defensively.
This decision put City at a disadvantage at a crucial point in the match, sparking debate over whether Oliver’s judgment was fair.
However, the quick free-kick did not violate any official rules, which meant VAR could not intervene, as the system is limited to reviewing key incidents like goals, penalties, and red cards.
Another incident early in the match involved Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, who collided with City’s Rodri just four seconds after kickoff.
Although VAR reviewed the incident, no foul play was found, and the match continued without further interruption.
The handling of the Walker incident caught the attention of commentators, including Gary Neville. Speaking during his live coverage on Sky Sports,
Neville remarked, “He’s pulled him out of position but not allowed him to get back. I would be annoyed.”
This echoed the frustration of many, who felt that Oliver’s decision unfairly affected Manchester City’s defense at a critical moment.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also referenced the disruption in his post-match comments, though indirectly.
He praised his team’s resilience, noting, “I admire my team.
My team started well after interruptions for many things, and after the first goal (with) the referee asking the captains (Walker and Bukayo Saka) to talk.”
Guardiola’s comments subtly hinted at how the referee’s decisions, including the timing of the free-kick, had impacted City’s rhythm in the game.
As the controversy lingers, Manchester City players may be more cautious in future matches about engaging in prolonged discussions with referees, especially if it leaves them vulnerable to quick restarts.
The incident underscores how seemingly small decisions can significantly impact the outcome of high-stakes games like this one.
