The card of Michael Oliver who will direct the match at the Franchi this evening. Experienced referee with a checkered past with Juventus.
It will be the 39 year old Englishman Michael Oliver to referee this evening’s semi-final first leg between Fiorentina and Club Brugge. The referee Roberto Rosetti, in an impeccable manner, has designated the referees for the three European events that he has already called for the European Championships in June and Oliver is in fact one of the two English referees called. There are 16 whistleblowers who will direct the European Championship matches and among these also our Italians Orsato and Guida.
Returning to today’s match, Oliver is a referee of undoubted personality (some remember him for the furious argument with Buffon for having awarded a penalty in Real Madrid-Juventus against the Bianconeri in the final seconds). This episode serves to highlight the personality and above all the character of the English whistler. Oliver lets play a lot, as they normally do in England, so the players have to avoid dramas because naturally they don’t fall within the idea of him fouling. Consequently, the threshold for fouls is also very high, as in Europe. He does not accept simulations and protests, especially blatant ones. In short, maximum attention to small details. Empathic with the players, inclined to dialogue but with distance and respect. This season he has taken charge of 22 matches in the Premier League, 3 in the Champions League, 2 in the Europa League and this is his first Conference match of the season. As regards disciplinary sanctions, we count an average of 5.5 in Europe and 3.5 in the Premier League.
