Liverpool Manager Arne Slot Receives Touchline Ban And Fine After Everton Red Card

Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has been banned for two games after being sent off at the end of the Merseyside derby.

During the tumultuous conclusion of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Everton on February 12, Slot approached referee Michael Oliver and was observed speaking to him briefly before they exchanged a forceful handshake.

Oliver immediately produced a red card, having also sent off Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Slot’s assistant Sipke Hulshoff in the fallout after the final whistle.

Jones and Doucoure served one-match bans after the derby, while both Slot and Hulshoff were charged by the FA and referred to an independent regulatory commission.

The Implications of the Charge

Both Liverpool’s manager and assistant manager admitted the charges against them and have received two-game suspensions. Slot has also been fined £70,000, while Hulshoff has been fined £7,000.

As a result, both Slot and Hulshoff will be prohibited from the touchline during the Premier League match against Newcastle United tonight. They will also be unavailable for the match against bottom-placed Southampton on Saturday, March 8.

In their absence, assistant coach John Heitinga, a former Everton defender, is expected to assume control of the team.

The Football Association explained in a statement, “It was alleged that the Liverpool head coach acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behavior towards both the match referee and an assistant referee after the match had finished. Arne Slot admitted the charge and the Regulatory Commission imposed a two-match touchline suspension and £70,000 fine.”

Both clubs were fined for their failure to control their players during the post-match chaos. This incident was triggered by Doucoure’s provocative celebrations directed at the traveling Liverpool fans, just moments after Everton equalized with James Tarkowski’s spectacular volley in the 97th minute.

As an emotionally intense night came to a close, marking the final derby at Goodison Park before Everton transitioned to their newly constructed stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, the Merseyside-born Jones was incensed by Doucoure’s taunting of the visiting fans.

He aggressively confronted the opposing midfielder, leading to a chaotic scene as more players, stewards, and police joined the fray.

The FA added, “It was alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way following the final whistle.

“Everton and Liverpool admitted the charges, and the Regulatory Commission imposed £65,000 and £50,000 fines on them respectively following a hearing.”