Arne Slot has been handed an extended two-match touchline ban after his red card following Liverpool’s draw at Everton.
Slot and assistant Spike Hulshoff confronted referee Michael Oliver after the final whistle to protest against James Tarkowski’s last-gasp equaliser. Liverpool were adamant there had been a foul in the build-up, but Oliver awarded a goal, with VAR confirming the decision.
Oliver showed Slot a red card after the Dutchman shook his hand. That prompted some confusion about the reasons behind his dismissal, with the Premier League now confirming it was due to him using ‘offensive, insulting or abusive language’.
In a statement, the Premier League said: “Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was dismissed at the end of the Merseyside derby for using offensive, insulting, or abusive language. He is handed a two-match touchline ban as a result.”
While managers who see red usually are only given a one-match touchline ban, the use of abusive language means Slot’s ban has been escalated to two games. He was unable to conduct his post-match media duties following Wednesday’s game, due to Premier League rules.
First team coach Jonny Heitinga will be in charge for Sunday’s visit from struggling Wolves. And he may retain that role for Wednesday’s trip to Aston Villa, if Hulshoff is also handed a two-match ban.
Liverpool star Curtis Jones was also sent off by Oliver, for his part in sparking the mass brawl that broke out after the game. Jones shoved Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure after he celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans to taunt them.
As well as seeing Slot, Jones and Hulshoff receive a ban, Liverpool can expect a charge from the FA for failing to control their players under FA rule E.20. Premier League laws also dictate that a team who receive six cards within one match automatically qualify for a separate fine for misconduct. Coaches are included in this.
Liverpool saw yellow cards for Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley and Jones twice, while red cards were shown to boss Slot and his No.2 Hulshoff. As it is the first time the Reds have fallen foul of this rule, they stand in line for a £25,000 fine.
Wednesday’s draw saw Liverpool pull seven points clear of closest challengers Arsenal in the Premier League title race. And Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk pinned the blame for the brawl on Doucoure, insisting the Everton star deliberately attempted to ‘provoke’ his team’s fans.
“This is their cup final. We saw it last year, and this year it’s a big blow. Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans. Curtis didn’t think that was the right thing to do. I think the referee didn’t have the game in control; I said that to him,” Van Dijk fumed.
“It was a very big provocation from one certain player. We all saw it and reacted as a team as we were able to do. You know what happens nowadays, it becomes one big tussle. Then it is not me who has to deal with it, it is the referee and today I am not sure he had it fully under control.”
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