“Don’t Blame Michael Oliver!” – Ex-FIFA Referee Defends Official Over Mac Allister Head Injury Controversy
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett has come to the defence of Michael Oliver amid the storm surrounding Alexis Mac Allister’s head injury during Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United at Anfield.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett argued that Oliver should not shoulder the blame for allowing play to continue while Mac Allister was down, insisting referees are increasingly challenged by player simulation in today’s game.
Hackett, who has long criticised diving and once labelled it a “disease” in football, said incidents like Noni Madueke’s attempt to win a penalty for England earlier this year have made referees more hesitant to stop play unless absolutely necessary.
That hesitation may explain Oliver’s decision when Mac Allister went to ground after being accidentally caught on the back of the head by Virgil van Dijk early in the match. With Liverpool appealing for play to be halted, Bryan Mbeumo pounced to score the opener for United inside two minutes — sparking outrage from the Anfield crowd.
Sky Sports’ Ref Watch panel later described the moment as an “unfortunate incident,” with debate raging over whether the referee should have intervened sooner for a potential head injury.
Mac Allister eventually received treatment and was later seen wearing a protective cap, but the moment remains one of the talking points of the weekend — and a reminder, as Hackett puts it, of the fine line referees must walk between protecting players and not being deceived by theatrics.
