Premier League referee Michael Oliver will take charge of Coventry City’s Championship play-off final date with Luton Town on Saturday afternoon, as the use of VAR at Wembley has also been confirmed.
Oliver has been widely considered to be among the best referees in the country for some time and has been recognised internationally, too, and officiated the 2022 UEFA Super Cup and was in attendance for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year.
The 38-year-old has taken charge of 45 matches this season, domestically, in Europe and internationally, and has dished out 157 yellow cards in that time – as well as two red cards. Those sendings off were to Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich, during their Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain, and to Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa, who were beaten 3-0 in Steven Gerrard’s last game in October.
This will be Oliver’s first match in charge of a game involving Coventry since he took charge of their 3-2 defeat at Ipswich Town all the way back in January 2010 – on that day Clinton Morrison and Richard Wood for the Sky Blues, in a match which was also in the Championship.
The EFL have also confirmed that VAR will be in place at Wembley for two sides who aren’t otherwise subject to the officiating aid on a weekly basis, as clubs in the Premier League are; another Premier League referee in Andre Marriner will be in charge of VAR from Stockley Park, and he’ll be assisted by Richard West.
Officials at Wembley for the Championship play-off final
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant Referees: Stuart Burt & Lee Betts
Fourth Official: Graham Scott
Reserve AR: Mark Scholes
VAR: Andre Marriner
AVAR: Richard West
