Referee Michael Oliver will not officiate any Premier League games this weekend due to how he handled the horror foul on Jean Philippe-Mateta.
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Mateta taken to hospital over horror challenge Referee Oliver initially fails to send off Milwall keeperWon't officiate weekend's PL games as a result Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Mateta was rushed to hospital after Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts kicked the Palace striker in the face in their FA Cup win at the weekend. Now, The Athletic claims Oliver has not been given a refereeing appointment for matchweek 28 (March 8-10) after his decision to initially not send off the Lions keeper on Saturday. Play was stopped for several minutes while the 6ft 4in forward received treatment and after consulting his pitchside monitor, Roberts was eventually red carded by the 40-year-old official.
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Mateta needed 25 stitches to his left ear as a result of the challenge, but the 27-year-old said he was "doing well" later that day. While the Frenchman is on the road to recovery, Roberts is facing an extended ban for his actions.
DID YOU KNOW?
The report adds that Oliver, who sent off Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly against Wolves in January before that was overturned following an appeal, is not on fourth official or video assistant referee duty this weekend as well.
AFPWHAT NEXT?
While Oliver is not in Premier League action this weekend, he will be in charge of Bayern Munich's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.