Finally, his decisions were controversial
Referee for German royal class duel fixed
03.03.2025 – 2:19 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The German duel in the Champions League is eagerly awaited. Now it is also clear who whistles Bavaria against Leverkusen.
The round of 16 in the Champions League between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday (from 9:00 p.m. in the T-Online Live Tickier) is led by Michael Oliver. The UEFA announced the establishment of the English referee on Monday. This could be a good omen for Munich.
Oliver, who was recently criticized in England, was the focus last weekend in the FA Cup game between Crystal Palace and FC Millwall (3-1). Only in the view of the video images did he decide on red for Millwall keeper Liam Roberts after this Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta had met with a kung Fu step. Palace boss Steve Parish critically said at the BBC: it was “terrifying” that Oliver had to rely on the Var.
The 40-year-old also caused a sensation in the Merseyside derby between Liverpool FC and Everton FC two weeks earlier. After the final whistle, he showed two players yellow-red and referred Reds coach Arne Slot and his assistant to the stands with red. Slot received a lock of two games.
So far, it has been going well for Bavaria under Oliver’s management. In four games with him as a referee, the German record champion went undefeated. Most recently, the club won 1-0 at Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 in 2023. Only in February 2022 there was no victory in the 1-1 win against RB Salzburg.
Leverkusen has also had positive experiences under Oliver – three of the four games with him as an impartial won the workself. But the last encounter was less pleasant: in the semi-final first leg of the Europa League 2023, Leverkusen was defeated 0-1 at AS Rome. The second leg ended goalless, which burst the final room.
A German referee is also used in the round of 16. Felix Zwayer from Munich will lead the game between Benfica Lisbon and FC Barcelona with coach Hansi Flick at the same time.