Former PGMOL chairman Keith Hackett has issued a points deduction warning to Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who are now leading the Premier League, following the Dutch tactician’s irate tirade following their 2-2 draw with Everton.
In the last moments of the final all-Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, James Tarkowski crushed Liverpool’s hearts, and Slot, infuriated by Michael Oliver’s officiating, scolded the referee and was sent out for his misdeeds.
Following the incident, it was announced that Slot, who has won 20 of his first 28 games as Liverpool’s manager since taking over for the adored Jurgen Klopp, would be sent out with a two-match suspension that only pertains to domestic play.
The FA’s written statement explaining the Liverpool manager’s ban claims that he told Oliver that he had been biassed against Everton by claiming that he had “f*****g give them everything,” and then added, “if we don’t win the league, I’ll f*****g blame you.”
As the referee was accused of making dubious judgements that would ultimately benefit David Moyes’ team, Slot, who is considered to be among the top managers in international football, is also said to have asked Oliver if he was satisfied with his performance.
Regarding his post-match antics, the former Feyenoord custodian stated, “It happened a lot and the emotions got the better of me.” “I would really like to do it differently if I could go back and change it. Next time, I would also do it [differently].
Like Slot, Nuno Espirito Santo and Fabian Hurzeler, one of the youngest managers in Premier League history, were given their marching orders this season when they faced off against Brighton & Hove Albion in September.
In an exclusive interview with Football Insider, Hackett, who had a successful refereeing career from 1975 to 1994, said he thinks the possibility of resulting point deductions could defuse future clashes between officials and managers.
Instead of standing in the centre, waiting for handshakes and encouraging remarks, I would prefer to see referees heading towards the tunnel as the final whistle sounds. He added, “I hope that the manager and his assistant will take a more controlled approach to the level of fines.” “I feel that this will reduce any tensions that have built up in the game,” he said.
After Liverpool’s 2-2 tie with their Merseyside-based neighbours, Hackett emphasised that if fines don’t produce the desired effect, point reductions for teams could.
We might see point deductions if these fines in the future don’t have the intended impact. The last time they applied that sanction to a huge altercation on the pitch, I was the man in the middle during Manchester United vs. Arsenal.
Manchester United received a one-point penalty in the 1990s, while the aforementioned North Londoners lost two points from their total. Despite Hackett’s advice, there isn’t any rumour circulating in Premier League circles that a regulatory change is imminent.
xz
