Michael Oliver will referee the FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Chelsea, the Football Association has announced.
The 33-year-old from Northumberland will be assisted by Lee Betts and Ian Hussin. Lee Mason will be the fourth official whilst Neil Swarbrick will be the first video assistant referee in the Final’s history.
Mick McDonough will be Swarbrick’s assistant.
Oliver has enjoyed a swift rise to prominence since becoming the youngest-ever Premier League referee at the age of 25. He took charge of the 2014 Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City and is a regular official at Champions League matches.
Oliver found himself the subject of headlines earlier this month after awarding Real Madrid an injury-time penalty from which they ended Juventus’ stirring comeback in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Gianluigi Buffon, who Oliver sent off for dissent after the spot-kick had been awarded, said the referee had a “rubbish bin for a heart”.
Police offered support to Oliver and his wife and social media trolls posted abuse at him following the game, where a 3-1 win for Juventus was not enough to avoid a 4-3 aggregate elimination to Madrid.
