The decision comes less than 24 hours after the Premier League fixture, which saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool suffer their fourth consecutive league defeat amid a series of questionable refereeing and VAR decisions that have dominated headlines worldwide.
In a statement released late Sunday night, FIFA confirmed that referee Michael Oliver and his entire officiating team have been immediately suspended from all football-related activities pending a full disciplinary review.
According to the governing body, evidence gathered from both live footage and internal VAR communications revealed “serious breaches of officiating integrity” during key moments of the match — including the disallowed Liverpool goal and the controversial penalty awarded to Brentford in the second half.
“After a detailed review of all available evidence from the Brentford vs Liverpool fixture, FIFA has determined that multiple errors of judgment and procedural violations occurred,” the statement read.
“The match officials involved have been temporarily relieved of their duties, and further disciplinary measures are under consideration. FIFA remains committed to upholding fairness and transparency within all competitions under its jurisdiction.”
The investigation centers around two major moments that drastically influenced the game’s outcome:
The Ignored Foul on Mohamed Salah – In the 35th minute, Liverpool’s Egyptian forward appeared to be brought down inside the box by Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, but referee Michael Oliver waved play on. VAR did not intervene, sparking outrage among fans and pundits. The Late Penalty Against Van Dijk – With Liverpool pressing for an equalizer at 2–1, Brentford were awarded a penalty following a VAR check that deemed Virgil van Dijk guilty of a “reckless challenge.” Replays later suggested minimal contact, leaving many questioning the decision.
These calls proved pivotal as Igor Thiago converted the spot-kick to make it 3–1 before Mohamed Salah’s late strike reduced the deficit to 3–2 — but it wasn’t enough to save Liverpool from defeat.
Liverpool’s Reaction: “Justice Must Be Seen to Be Done”
Liverpool FC responded within hours of FIFA’s announcement. In a strongly worded statement, the club thanked the governing body for its swift investigation but urged for greater accountability and reform within the VAR system.
“We appreciate FIFA’s decisive action following the review of Saturday’s fixture,” the statement read.
“While this does not change the result, it reinforces our belief that fairness and consistency must remain central to football officiating. These decisions have real consequences for teams, players, and supporters.”
Sources close to the club revealed that manager Arne Slot privately expressed relief that the issue had been formally addressed, describing the officiating as “a direct violation of competitive fairness.”
Perhaps the most shocking development in FIFA’s statement was the revelation that Brentford FC themselves are also under investigation for potential misconduct.
FIFA confirmed that they are examining “irregular interactions” between Brentford’s technical staff and match officials before and during the game. If wrongdoing is proven, the club could face a significant points deduction, or even forfeiture of the match result.
“While no final conclusion has been reached, any form of influence, intentional or otherwise, on match officiating will be met with the highest level of disciplinary response,” FIFA’s disciplinary department noted.
Brentford have 72 hours to respond to the allegations.
The reaction among fans — particularly Liverpool supporters — has been explosive. Across social media platforms, thousands have called for a full match replay or restoration of points, arguing that the refereeing mistakes directly altered the outcome.
Hashtags such as #JusticeForLiverpool and #VARCorruption have trended on X (formerly Twitter), with pundits and ex-players also weighing in.
Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness stated on Sky Sports:
“It’s one of the worst examples of officiating I’ve seen in years. If FIFA are stepping in, you know it’s serious.”
FIFA confirmed that a joint review panel, including representatives from the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), the Premier League, and FIFA’s Refereeing Committee, will convene next week to decide the final sanctions.
Michael Oliver and his assistants will not be assigned to any domestic or international matches until further notice. The findings of the full investigation are expected to be released publicly within seven days.
This is not the first time English football has faced officiating controversy this season — but it may be the most consequential. FIFA’s direct intervention signals a growing frustration with inconsistent VAR applications and could mark the start of major reform in global refereeing oversight.
For Liverpool, the defeat leaves them with just 15 points from 10 games, sitting sixth in the table and already falling behind in the title race. But for many fans, the scoreline is no longer the main story — the integrity of the competition is.
As FIFA’s investigation deepens and pressure mounts on both the officials and Brentford FC, one thing is clear — this incident has shaken trust in Premier League officiating to its core.
For Liverpool, it’s another painful night overshadowed by controversy. For football, it could become a defining moment in the fight for fair play and accountability.