Riccardo Calafiori criticises Michael Oliver stealing the spotlight

Riccardo Calafiori expresses his disapproval of Michael Oliver overshadowing others.

Riccardo Calafiori: Referees Should Stay Out Of Spotlight

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Riccardo Calafiori from Arsenal shares a moment of joy with his teammates after netting the opening goal for the team in the Premier League clash against Manchester City FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Michael Oliver became the center of attention when he issued a second yellow card to Leandro Trossard during Arsenal's game against Manchester City on Sunday. The referee penalized the forward for taking too long to resume play.

Oliver had overlooked Jeremy Doku's act of kicking the ball away to slow down the game earlier, and he also chose to disregard Dominik Szoboszlai doing something similar for Liverpool the week before.

However, Oliver disrupted what was shaping up to be an exciting match by only penalizing Trossard. This decision transformed the rest of the game into a situation where Manchester City had 11 players on the offensive against Arsenal's 10 players on defense.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Players respond after Referee Michael Oliver hands a red card to Arsenal's Leandro Trossard (partially hidden) during the Premier League game between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at the Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Following the match, Calafiori expressed his frustration, stating that it was unnecessary for Oliver to focus on his officiating.

"Referees need to carry out their responsibilities to ensure the game is enjoyable for spectators," Calafiori told Sky Sports. "In this situation, they shouldn't draw too much attention to themselves."

"Alright, it's time to focus on your responsibilities. That's it. Let the players have their turn."

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Ruben Dias expresses his feelings to referee Michael Oliver during the Premier League game between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at the Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024. (Image by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The remarks closely resemble those of Howard Webb from the previous year. Michael Oliver (once again) did not give Mateo Kovacic a red card for two possible offenses during the match against Arsenal, and Webb implied that the referee was reluctant to disrupt the flow of the game.

Webb commented on the decision, saying, "He aims to avoid affecting the game negatively by overreacting to any situation."

"Occasionally, a player might receive a yellow card and then face pressure to get another one. This pressure often comes from other players on the field."

Sadly, Oliver didn't struggle to give in to that pressure this time.