Michael Oliver has been widely criticised after Manchester City’s match against Arsenal. AFP Photo

Paul Kennedy

The best referees are the ones you never notice.

Officials who get on with the game with no fuss, bother or trouble.

If the match finishes, and all talk is about the man, or woman, in the middle, then there’s clearly a problem.

Arsenal supporters this week have been a little miffed to say the least after their 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

With Arsenal leading by two goals to one, striker Leandro Trossard was given a second yellow card by referee Michael Oliver and dismissed for time wasting.

By the letter of the law, it was the correct decision, but supporters say a City player went unpunished for doing exactly the same.

This lack of consistency has put match officials under the spotlight.

The 39-year-old official has now sent off an Arsenal player a total of seven times in his career, more than any other team in the Premier League.

Last season, Oliver also refused to show Man City's Mateo Kovacic a second yellow card at the Emirates against Arsenal, claiming he 'didn't want to ruin the game'.

This has also led to some fairly ridiculous conspiracy theories concerning Oliver doing the rounds on social media.

Meme-makers have been in their element, creating photos of Oliver in a City strip.

This all stems from a match in 2023, when the official travelled to the United Arab Emirates to referee a league game over there and was paid by the people who actually own Man City.

Apparently he was paid somewhere in the region of $25,000. Not bad for a few hours' work.

Now if someone wants to fly me to Dubai, put me up in a fancy hotel and give me a huge wad of cash for a few hours' work, I’m in.

But then again, I’m not Michael Oliver. And while I doubt very much that influenced his decision making in any way, shape or form during the match last week, it does leave him wide open for criticism.

Referees have a tough job on their hands, no doubt.

Yes, they are given some help through the introduction of VAR technology, but mistakes will always come under scrutiny.

Let’s remember they are human, and they will make the odd error here and there.

But Oliver and co should really think twice before accepting a bucket full of money from the owners of a Premier League club to do some work in the Middle East.

It really doesn’t bode well. VNS