MICHAEL OLIVER reportedly earned DOUBLE his Premier League wage when he took charge of Cristiano Ronaldo’s match in the Saudi Pro League game on Tuesday.
The game saw Al-Nassr lose 2-0 to Al-Hilal, denting Ronaldo’s title hopes.
World Cup referee Michael Oliver booked Cristiano Ronaldo as Al-Nassr were well beaten by Al-Hilal
The 38-year-old Portuguese star was booked as he grappled his opponent to the ground.
But, for many eagle-eyed fans, the man brandishing the card was of more interest.
According to the Daily Mail, the Northumberland-based referee earned approximately £3,000, and also flew business class to and from Riyadh.
The fee for the match – which has seen Ronaldo caught up in a deportation storm for grabbing his crotch – is roughly double what he would receive for an English top flight fixture.
It is thought that Oliver, and other leading Premier League referees, may take charge of more games overseas in the future.
Howard Webb, now head of the PGMOL, was previously head of referees in Saudi Arabia and is said to be supportive of the move.
While the FA were hesitant in the past, Webb believes it will aid the reputation of English officials abroad, and be beneficial for referees to gain valuable experience.
Oliver did not have a Champions League fixture this week and was able to fly in and out of Riyadh in just over a day, giving him plenty of time to recover.
Leading official Oliver, who was promoted to the UEFA Elite Group of Referees back in 2018, will take charge of the biggest game of the season next week when Manchester City host Arsenal on Wednesday.
