FIFA indicted of snubbing England referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor at World Cup
In response to the OneLove campaign, FIFA has been accused of snubbing English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor.
Oliver, 37, and Taylor, 44, will represent the Premier League at the World Cup in Qatar, but FIFA has not yet assigned them a match. After receiving threats from FIFA, seven European nations were compelled to abandon the OneLove campaign.
The governing body of global football warned Harry Kane, Gareth Bale, and five other World Cup captains that they would be fined if they wore the OneLove armband, which promotes diversity and inclusion. In Qatar, same-sex relationships are illegal.
Even though none of the seven captains wore the armband, players have continued to protest. On Wednesday, Germany players notably covered their mouths prior to their 2-1 loss to Japan.
It is alleged that Oliver and Taylor’s continued advocacy for LGBT+ rights has hampered their chances of officiating at the World Cup. According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, two Premier League referees have been sidelined by FIFA.
Oliver and Taylor are two of the finest officials in England. Oliver has been a Premier League referee since 2010 and a FIFA-listed official since 2012. He has served as a referee for the European Super Cup, the Community Shield, the EFL Cup final, and two FA Cup finals.
Taylor also began refereeing in the Premier League in 2010 and was added to FIFA’s list the following year. The European Super Cup, the Nations League final, the FA Cup final, the EFL Cup final, the Community Shield, and the Championship play-off final are among his most notable accomplishments.
Taylor is best known for officiating the June 2021 Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland, during which Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest. Taylor was commended for his prompt and composed response to the incident, which aided Eriksen’s recovery.
Daniel Siebert and Danny Makkelie of Germany and the Netherlands, respectively, are also awaiting their first assignments. Siebert is reportedly scheduled to referee Saturday’s match between Tunisia and Australia.
However, there is no information regarding when Oliver, Taylor, or Makkelie will have the opportunity to shine in Qatar. FIFA has yet to give Stephanie Frappart of France and Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda the opportunity to referee a men’s World Cup match.
Recently, Frappart and Mukansanga made World Cup history by becoming the first women to officiate a men’s tournament. On Friday, Yoshimi Yamashita of Japan will become the fourth official for England’s game against the United States.
Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s refereeing chief, has confirmed that female officials will be selected for all World Cup matches. Several nations competing in the World Cup restrict women’s rights, including Qatar, while protests continue in Iran.
FIFA indicted of snubbing England referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor at World Cup
