Conflicts of interest in most professional circumstances aren’t usually defined only by explicit acts of bribery or financial incentive though. Any organisation worth their salt will take a policy of removing situations where there could be a non-ridiculous perception that there is a conflict because they invite questions and present the potential for these more explicit circumstances to arrive.

My personal frustration is that a body that is vitally important in running the biggest football league in the world isn’t being held (whether internally or externally) to the same standards that any other similar industry of this financial size would be. I do not believe Michael Oliver has been paid by City or even that there is any unconscious bias in his decision but it’s another example of how amateurish the whole organisation is.