Exclusive: Keith Hackett backs ex-Arsenal star after new Michael Oliver complaint
Michael Oliver was right to award a penalty to Bayern Munich in their Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen, Keith Hackett has suggested.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Granit Xhaka was correct to suggest the referee would not have awarded the spot kick in a Premier League game.
Oliver has come in for plenty of scrutiny over a number of his decisions in recent weeks, starting with sending off Arsenal left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly against Wolves.
He was also criticised for his role in the dismissals of Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff at the end of the Merseyside Derby.
This weekend saw Oliver again come under fire for initially not sending off Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts for kicking Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in the head.
On this occasion though, it appears the referee got his decision correct, even if he did need the help of VAR.
Michael Oliver makes big penalty call in Champions League clash
On Wednesday (5 March) Oliver took charge of the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie between German sides Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
With less than 20 minutes remaining and Bayern leading 2-0, Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba could be seen holding Harry Kane inside the penalty area as he looked to win a ball from a corner.
Although that was not initially penalised, Oliver pointed to the spot to award a penalty to Bayern after a VAR check, which was duly dispatched by Kane to secure a 3-0 win.
| Harry Kane for Bayern Munich in 2024/25 | Total (as per Transfermarkt) |
| Appearances | 34 |
| Goals | 31 |
| Assists | 10 |
| Yellow Cards | 4 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
| Minutes Played | 2,665 |
After the game, Leverkusen midfielder Xhaka was unhappy with that penalty award, with the former Arsenal man claiming Oliver would not have given the spot kick in a Premier League game.
He said after the match “In the Premier League, he doesn’t give that. I spent seven years there and know Michael. I’m convinced he wouldn’t whistle it in the Premier League.
“There are so many blocks in the Premier League that today it was nothing. It’s a bit disappointing from him to whistle such a penalty at this level and probably decide the game. If you give a penalty for every block, there would be so many penalties every game.”
Hackett agrees with those claims from Xhaka, but because he believes the Premier League need to come down harder on such offences, which he feels are not punished enough in England.
Instead, be believes that Oliver was correct to award this penalty in the Champions League clash between the two Bundesliga outfits.
Keith Hackett reacts to fresh Michael Oliver scrutiny
Speaking to Football Insider about Xhaka’s claims that Oliver would not have awarded that penalty in the Premier League rather than the Champions League, the former referee said:
“Granit Xhaka’s comments are supported by many including myself. We see a different and correct application of the law in Europe than we do here in England.
“In UEFA they get strong leadership and direction on these matters. UEFA hold regular seminars with groups of referees to ensure uniformity of interpretation on law across the 54 nations.
“We need to improve and punish holding with the same approach as UEFA.”
The two sides will meet in Leverkusen for the second leg of the tie on Tuesday night (11 March).