Arne Slot is said to have told the referee Michael Oliver after Liverpool’s draw at Everton last month: “If we don’t win the league, I’ll fucking blame you.”
The allegation, made by Oliver and supported by the Football Association, was revealed in the written reasons related to the case that led to Liverpool’s head coach receiving a two-game touchline ban.
Everton had scored a stoppage-time equaliser and tempers flared when Slot approached Oliver. The referee reported that after being told by Slot that he had “fucking give them everything”, the Dutchman approached him again and made that expletive-filled reference to the title. Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were shown red cards and both were subsequently given a two-match ban.
Slot denied using those words, stating in a submission that he had said: “If we don’t win the league, I will have you to thank for that.” But the three-person commission concluded it was “more likely than not that AS used the language alleged by the referee and the FA”.
The FA argued that in any event Slot had acted improperly, and the coach accepted that. Slot did not deny saying the words “fucking disgrace” to an assistant referee.
“Arne Slot, as the manager of LFC, is a role model and should be exercising good discipline both on and off the pitch, and setting an example to his players” and his actions “did not provide the positive image of the game that the governing bodies strive for”, said the commission.
It stated that were it not for his previous good record a three-match ban would have been imposed – which would have meant Slot being in the stands for the Carabao Cup final.
Slot said his frustration had got the better of him but insisted the language used was not directed as personal abuse. He will serve the second game of his ban at Saturday’s game against Southampton at Anfield.
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Decisions made by the commission are subject to appeal.
Source: theguardian.com
