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Man City vs Arsenal referee appointment confirmed after red card controversy

Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard reacts after a foul by Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic
-Credit: (Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)


PGMOL has announced that Michael Oliver will be officiating Arsenal's clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Oliver is one of the most senior-ranking officials in the Premier League however he came under plenty of scrutiny the last time City visited the Emirates Stadium. Oliver chose to only book Mateo Kovacic for a studs first challenge on Martin Odegaard.

This was checked by VAR at the time for a possible red card but Stockley Park chose to stick with the on-field decision. Oliver then chose not to give Kovacic a second yellow card when he piled into Declan Rice.

On this occasion, VAR was unable to intervene as it was a second bookable offence rather than a straight red card that was in contention. PGMOL chief Howard Webb later said on the Premier League Production's "Refs Mic'd up" show that Kovacic was 'extremely fortunate' to not be sent off by Oliver.

He added: "Of course, the referee is one of the best in the world, Michael [Oliver] will no doubt review that and he doesn't want to have a negative impact on the game by overreacting to something, and sometimes players will be on a yellow card and there will be pressure to show a second one. Pressure will come from players on the field, but you know that's also true that if you underreact you have a negative impact on the game.

"When he reflects, he'll realise the second one should've been a yellow, which would have seen Kovacic sent off for two yellow cards." Oliver will be assisted by Stuart Burt and Dan Cook on the flanks with Andy Madley in position as fourth official.

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Meanwhile, John Brooks will be on VAR duties assisted by Richard West.