Gabriel Agbonlahor shared a story about referee Michael Oliver following his performance in the Liverpool versus Manchester United match. Oliver received significant criticism for sending off Diogo Dalot during the goalless draw at Anfield. Dalot contested a throw-in decision in stoppage time, which was later confirmed by replays to be correct. However, Oliver and the linesman awarded the throw-in to Liverpool, provoking Dalot’s dissent and subsequent dismissal.
On TalkSPORT, Agbonlahor criticized Oliver’s decision to dismiss Dalot, labeling it as ‘ridiculous.’ He also recounted an anecdote about Oliver, suggesting the referee seems to view himself as a ‘celebrity.’ Agbonlahor criticized Oliver’s handling of the situation, citing a past incident involving Martinelli against Wolves. He expressed his belief that some referees enjoy the attention and recalled witnessing Oliver taking pictures with fans during a Euro game, hinting at a sense of celebrity status akin to Mike Dean.
Agbonlahor proposed an alternative approach for Oliver, suggesting that cautioning Dalot instead of promptly issuing a second yellow card might have sufficed. The lack of consistency in refereeing decisions in the league has frustrated United fans, especially regarding Dalot’s dismissal, which felt excessively harsh given the intense nature of the game.
