Michael Oliver at his third appearance at 2026 WC gets for the first time teams outside UEFA, he will officiate Canada - Morocco in the Round of 16.
Match #90
Round of 16
4 July 2026, 19:00 CET
NRG Stadium, Houston
CANADA - MOROCCO
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: Danny Makkelie NED
Reserve AR: Hessel Streegstra NED
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
It'll be interesting to see how Michael Oliver handles the protests and players surrounding the referee. Both teams, especially Morocco, can be quite emotional when they're behind.
ReplyDeleteWill we see the typical English approach, where dissent is dealt with firmly, or the FIFA approach we've seen throughout this tournament, where almost everything is allowed?
Good start shows he means business retake kick off
ReplyDeleteAfter the almost disaster of the start of the 2nd half in AUS/EGY, I'm betting the committee made sure to highlight it the next morning.
DeleteClip: https://streamable.com/a8ktqy
DeleteI do believe that all the referees are competent and capable.
ReplyDeleteBut things change when the referees arrive and are told to throw away everything, they know and everything that they've done their entire careers. That's where Collina ruins capable and competent referees.
A good referee manager recognizes and accepts that each referee is different and that they all have differing abilities, strengths and weaknesses. And he assigns his referees to matches accordingly.
But that takes more work. So instead, they take the easy way out and just toss out blanket instructions and directives to all the referees. And expect them all to robotically perform in the same manner. No wonder we're left with this disarray in terms of officiating.
Yup, I am looking at you Collina and Busacca. The people you were as referees would be ashamed of what you've become and what you're doing to refereeing.
With that said, just let the referees officiate their respective matches in the manner that best suits them, In the manner that they've done it their entire careers. I guarantee that the results will be much better. Is it really that much to ask, Mr. Collina and Mr. Busacca?
I don’t understand the head injury policy, this is for me an instant stop, this is way more important than statistic of the game time. Once again weird guidelines from the committee.
ReplyDeleteClip: https://streamable.com/5tbu5h
DeleteAs has been shown. Player health, safety, and wellbeing are not high on FIFA's priorities list.
DeleteThis is in no way the poor referee's fault who have been "handcuffed" by ridiculous instructions and directives.
Bravo Oliver,too much stepping on opponets foot.
ReplyDeleteNow MOR will complain why for foul on Hakimi there was no YC.
YC 20' Clip: https://streamable.com/mouzel
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