‘Argue about everything’ – Michael Oliver claims former Liverpool ace was ‘a nightmare to referee’

Michael Oliver has named one former Liverpool ace as the hardest footballer to referee.

The 38-year-old has been refereeing in the Premier League since 2010 and is recognised by some as the division’s best official.

That doesn’t mean the Northumberland-born referee hasn’t found it difficult to deal with some players during his career – naming ex-Red Craig Bellamy as ‘a nightmare’ to officiate and someone who ‘would argue about everything’.

Oliver shared his experiences with The Athletic in 2021, saying (via Liverpool.com): “Craig Bellamy was incredibly difficult. What you find is that some teams are difficult,” and “Teams that aren’t winning for a starter — that’s the same at every level — and teams who aren’t used to losing, the frustration level is higher for them.”

He added: “But one player, it would be Bellamy. I watched him for two or three years — I’m a Newcastle fan and you wanted him in your team because he was a winner. But he was a nightmare to referee because he would argue about everything. If you told him it was black, he’d tell you it was white.”

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Bellamy, who is now Vincent Kompany’s assistant at Burnley, represented Liverpool across two spells during his lengthy career.

During his second spell at the club during the 2011-2012 season he helped the Reds win the League Cup under Sir Kenny Dalglish at Wembley against Cardiff.

Although the former Wales international was a brilliant player on his day Liverpool supporters may remember the 44-year-old due to his antics off the pitch.

He once attempted to attack then teammate John Arne Riise with a golf club while away with Liverpool after the pair had earlier shared a confrontation.

After hearing that story it’s probably no surprise to hear that Oliver has named Bellamy as the hardest player to referee!