Michael Oliver

Match Officials confirmed for Luton clash

West Ham United v Luton Town
Premier League, London Stadium, Saturday 11 May 2024, 3pm BST


Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant Referees: Stuart Burt and Dan Cook
Fourth Official: Oliver Langford
VAR: Rob Jones
Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard

Michael Oliver has been confirmed as the man in the middle for West Ham United’s penultimate fixture of the 2023/24 Premier League season, at home to Luton Town.

Born in Ashington, Northumberland, Oliver was introduced to refereeing by his father, Clive, at the age of 14, and became the youngest referee to officiate at Wembley Stadium when he held the whistle at the 2007 Conference National Play-Off final, aged just 22.

He had already become the youngest Football League assistant referee and referee, and would become the youngest fourth official and referee in the Premier League, taking charge of Birmingham’s top-flight game against Blackburn in 2010/11 when he was 25.

The now 39-year-old has refereed two FA Cup finals - the 2018 showpiece between Chelsea and Manchester United and the 2021 final between Chelsea and Leicester City - and also oversaw Liverpool’s meeting with Manchester City in the 2016 EFL Cup final as well as the 2014 Community Shield between Manchester City and Arsenal.

Oliver, who in addition refereed the 2022 UEFA Super Cup and three matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is set to take charge of his third West Ham fixture of the season, having officiated the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace and the 2-0 win over Arsenal in December.

As he was in those two games, Oliver will be assisted by Stuart Burt and Dan Cook at London Stadium.

Burt, like Oliver, got into officiating through his father, and also worked at the 2022 FIFA World Cup alongside the referee. He has run the line at 27 Premier League matches so far this season.

Cook, meanwhile, has been a Premier League assistant referee since the 2015/16 season, and has worked at 26 top-flight games so far this campaign.

Oliver Langford will work as the fourth official on Saturday.

Primarily involved in EFL competition, having taken charge of 28 Championship games this term, Langford refereed the most recent of two Hammers clashes against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Cup in 2017, while he was the fourth official during a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace in 2015.

Finally, Rob Jones is set to look after Video Assistant Referee duties.

The 37-year-old carried out the same role as David Moyes’ men drew at home to Brighton and away to Sheffield United earlier this season, while he also refereed March’s narrow defeat at Newcastle.

 

Luton