Michael Oliver lands elite Champions League game after chaotic World Cup including unfortunate injury and clattering ace

MICHAEL OLIVER is set to referee Real Madrid’s Champions League tie against Inter Milan. The 41-year-old referee will be in the middle at the Bernabeu for Tuesday’s group stage game after a chaotic World Cup. Referee Michael Oliver during a Premier League match between Hull and Aston Villa Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Dani Olmo collides with referee Michael Oliver during Spain’s World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Belgium Credit: Getty It has been reported that Oliver will referee Los Blancos in Europe for the sixth time in his career, as per Marca. This comes after a busy World Cup that saw Oliver pull out of his first scheduled game between the Ivory Coast and Ecuador through injury. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Oliver went on to take the whistle for four matches during the 2026 tournament. This included the quarter-final between Spain and Belgium, where he accidentally clotheslined Barcelona’s Dani Olmo, 28, during the game. He also officiated two group stage games and Morocco‘s 3-0 round of 16 win over co-hosts Canada. But Oliver was blocked from officiating the World Cup final, despite being one of the best in the business, after England‘s impressive tournament run. Oliver has since returned from North America to take charge of two Premier League games this season. He also refereed Bodo/Glimt’s 3-0 win against NEC Nijmegen in the Champions League Qualifying stage last month. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Real Madrid will look to extend their impressive record with Oliver in the middle. The LaLiga club have suffered just two European defeats with the ref, including a controversial 3-1 loss against Juventus in the 2017-18 Champions League. This game was nearly sent to extra-time as Juventus brought the scores to 3-3 on aggregate, before a 93rd-minute penalty went Real Madrid’s way. Cristiano Ronaldo then netted his shot to send Los Blancos to the semi-finals. They then went on to beat Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, before a 3-1 win against Liverpool to win the final in Kyiv, Ukraine. Real Madrid’s only other loss with Oliver in charge came in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Bayern last season. Real boss Jose Mourinho may not be looking forward to a reunion with Oliver, having criticised the official while manager of Tottenham in 2021. That March, Oliver gave Arsenal a controversial penalty during the North London derby and Mourinho said: “It was a mistake by Michael Oliver. “Players get tired of so many matches, coaches get tired, referees maybe get tired. He had a game midweek in the Europa League, maybe [he is] tired. “Normally I am very unlucky with him because my record with him on penalties is astonishing. “Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, it does not matter the club I am very unlucky with such a good referee.” Comment now