English referee, Michael Oliver, has been chosen to feature in this week’s round of Champions League action by European football-governing body, UEFA, despite the controversy trailing him from a keenly contested Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton in the Premier League last week.
The 39-year-old Englishman was the match referee during the final Merseyside derby to be played at Goodison Park last Wednesday, where he brandished red cards to Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones after full time.
Oliver also handed out red cards to Liverpool boss Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff following a heated exchange between him and the Reds manager.
Following the controversial incident, Oliver did not officiate any Premier League games last weekend, though he was on VAR duties during Brighton’s 3-0 victory against Chelsea on Friday and in Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on Saturday.
However, UEFA have announced that Oliver will be the man in the middle when French Ligue 1 rivals, Paris Saint-Germain and Brest, meet in the second leg of their Champions League play-off clash at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
PSG head into that contest leading 3-0 from the first leg last week.