Brit Michael Oliver fluit Vitesse – FC Anzhi

De return in de derde voorronde van de Europa League staat donderdag 9 augustus om 20.00 uur op het programma. De Arnhemmers moeten in GelreDome een 0-2 achterstand goedmaken tegen FC Anzhi Makhachkala. De wedstrijd staat onder leiding van FIFA-scheidsrechter Michael Oliver.

Michael Oliver (born 20 February 1985) is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League having been being promoted to the Select Group of Referees in 2010. Later that year he became the youngest-ever referee to take charge of a Premier League game. He is based in Cramlington, Northumberland.

Early career
Oliver was introduced to refereeing by his father, Clive, at the age of 14. He quickly progressed through the ranks and was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2007 and refereed the 2007 Conference National play-off final, becoming the youngest referee to officiate at Wembley Stadium. In addition he had already been the youngest-ever Football League assistant referee, youngest-ever Football League referee, and would also become the youngest ever fourth official in the Premier League.

The Oliver family enjoyed a unique refereeing double when father Clive took charge of the 2009 League 2 play-off final and son Michael officiated the next day at the 2009 League 1 play-off final. 

Premier League
Oliver was set to become the youngest-ever referee in the Premier League when he was appointed to the match between Fulham and Portsmouth on 9 January 2010. However, adverse weather resulted in him having to postpone the match and it was not re-arranged until after he had undergone an ankle operation which sidelined him until April.

His Premier League refereeing debut was therefore put on hold and after being promoted to the Select Group in August 2010, his first appointment was Birmingham City against Blackburn Rovers on 21 August. Oliver was 25 years and 182 days old, breaking Stuart Attwell’s record as the youngest-ever Premier League referee.

Supportersvereniging Vitesse / Wikipedia