Ex-Fifa official: Referee should be suspended after ‘massive’ Douglas Luiz twist at Aston Villa
Michael Oliver should be suspended for a game after showing Douglas Luiz a red card as Aston Villa lost 3-0 to Fulham last week (20 October), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee delivered his verdict after Luiz’s sending-off was rescinded.
The 24-year-old was shown a straight red card after Oliver reviewed his coming together with Alexander Mitrovic at Craven Cottage.
The FA confirmed on Friday (21 October) that the decision had been rescinded and Luiz was available for selection and started Aston Villa’s 4-0 win over Brentford on Sunday (23 October).
Oliver then took charge of Leicester City’s 4-0 win over Wolves at Molineux on the same day.
“When a referee does that, I think they should lose a game,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“There has to be some form of accountability when a referee makes a mistake of this magnitude. A sending-off could have a massive impact on a game.
“I’m suggesting when a referee makes a major error they are taken out of the next game and should receive some operational advice.
“It is what I used to do when I was head of the PGMOL.
“It’s why we have professional referees, they are there to get every decision right. It’s not in humanly possible to do that but it’s the target.”
The defeat to Fulham was Steven Gerrard’s last in charge of Aston Villa as he was sacked within hours of the final whistle.
Aaron Danks has been placed in temporary charge and lifted them to 14th in the Premier League table with the win over Brentford.
In other news, Aston Villa are plotting a move to sign Queens Park Rangers’ star man.