Keith Hackett’s Previous Criticism of Michael Oliver Resurfaces After Controversial VAR Decision to Send Off Jean-Philippe Mateta Against Tottenham
Former Premier League refereeing chief Keith Hackett’s previous comments about Michael Oliver have resurfaced following another controversial VAR intervention involving Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta during Saturday’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Hackett had previously questioned Oliver’s judgement after the referee required VAR assistance to issue a red card during Crystal Palace’s FA Cup meeting with Millwall in March 2025. Following another incident involving Mateta, fresh discussions about refereeing consistency and decision-making in the Premier League have emerged.
The latest controversy took place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Mateta was sent off during the opening stages of Crystal Palace’s encounter with Roberto De Zerbi’s side after making a dangerous challenge on Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven.
What initially appeared to be a yellow-card offence quickly became a major talking point after VAR recommended that Oliver review the incident.
Michael Oliver Reverses His Initial Decision Following VAR Intervention
The incident occurred around the 12th minute when Mateta attempted to compete for possession alongside Van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Unfortunately for the Palace striker, he arrived late and made dangerous contact with Van de Ven’s Achilles area using his studs during a sliding challenge.
Despite being in a good position to assess the situation, Oliver initially decided to show Mateta a yellow card rather than dismiss him.
His decision immediately attracted attention because of the nature of the challenge and the potential risk of injury to the Tottenham defender.
VAR officials subsequently intervened and recommended that Oliver take another look at the incident using the pitchside monitor.
After reviewing the footage, the experienced referee changed his original decision and produced a straight red card, leaving Crystal Palace with ten players for the remainder of the match.
Although Van de Ven fortunately avoided a serious injury, the incident raised questions about why Oliver initially considered a yellow card sufficient punishment for the challenge.
Keith Hackett’s Previous Comments About Michael Oliver Return to the Spotlight
Interestingly, this was not the first occasion Oliver had faced criticism over a VAR-assisted red-card decision involving Mateta.
During Crystal Palace’s FA Cup meeting with Millwall in March 2025, the referee was also at the centre of controversy after goalkeeper Liam Roberts produced a dangerous challenge on the Palace forward.
Roberts rushed out of his penalty area and caught Mateta in the head with his studs, leaving the striker requiring medical attention.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Oliver initially failed to issue a straight red card. VAR officials eventually recommended an on-field review, after which the referee changed his decision and dismissed the Millwall goalkeeper.
The situation attracted a strong reaction from Hackett, who questioned why an experienced official needed assistance from VAR to recognise what he considered an obvious sending-off offence.
Speaking to Football Insider at the time, the former Professional Game Match Officials Limited chief described the challenge as appalling and expressed frustration with Oliver’s initial response.
Hackett’s criticism attracted attention because of his extensive experience in professional refereeing and his understanding of the responsibilities placed on top-level officials.
Premier League VAR Standards Face Fresh Questions
Oliver’s latest involvement in a controversial VAR decision has once again brought the debate surrounding Premier League refereeing standards into focus.
Although VAR was introduced to help officials correct clear and obvious mistakes, questions continue to emerge about the consistency of decisions and the responsibility referees should take when assessing incidents during matches.
In Mateta’s case, Oliver initially believed the challenge deserved a yellow card before changing his assessment after reviewing the available footage.
This has renewed discussions about whether certain dangerous challenges should be recognised immediately by referees on the pitch rather than requiring intervention from video officials.
There is, however, a distinction between making an understandable judgement from a difficult viewing angle and failing to recognise the seriousness of an offence.
Under the Laws of the Game, referees can issue straight red cards for serious foul play when a player uses excessive force or endangers an opponent’s safety.
Challenges involving studs making contact with an opponent’s Achilles area can be particularly serious, depending on the nature and intensity of the contact.
As a result, Oliver’s eventual decision to dismiss Mateta has grounds under the serious-foul-play regulations, even though his initial assessment was different.
Tottenham Capitalise on Crystal Palace’s Numerical Disadvantage
For Crystal Palace, Mateta’s dismissal represented a significant setback, particularly because it happened so early in the contest.
The striker had only recently returned from an injury-affected start to the campaign and was making a rare appearance in the Premier League starting lineup.
His departure forced manager Pierre Sage to reorganise his attacking plans with more than 75 minutes still remaining.
Tottenham quickly took advantage of their numerical superiority, with Archie Gray opening the scoring in the 24th minute after meeting a corner delivered by Mohammed Kudus.
The goal gave De Zerbi’s team an important advantage and placed even greater pressure on Palace, who had arrived in north London following disappointing results against Brighton and Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, Oliver once again found himself under scrutiny following a decision that required VAR intervention.
Although Hackett’s previous criticism concerned the separate incident involving Roberts and Mateta in the FA Cup, it has become relevant again because of the similarities surrounding Oliver’s initial decisions.
Ultimately, Mateta’s dismissal can be justified under the serious-foul-play regulations. Nevertheless, Oliver’s decision to initially show a yellow card before reversing it following a VAR review has provided another talking point in the ongoing debate about Premier League refereeing consistency.
VAR STORM ERUPTS! Keith Hackett’s Previous Explosive Verdict on Michael Oliver Resurfaces After Controversial Mateta Red Card Against Tottenham
