Arne Slot’s FA accusation is explained, as the Liverpool head coach faces a touchline ban following his red card against Everton.
Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach, has been charged by the Football Association following his red card against Everton.
The Reds’ manager was fired following the 2-2 draw in the Merseyside derby. Slot was seen arguing with Michael Oliver immediately after a scuffle in which Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones was sent off. Sipke Hulshoff, the Reds’ assistant manager, was also dismissed, as was Everton midfielder Abdoualye Doucoure.
What’s been said
According to an FA statement, “Everton, Liverpool, Arne Slot, and Sipke Hulshoff have been charged following the Premier League fixture between the clubs on Wednesday, February 12.”
“It is claimed that both clubs failed to ensure that their players and/or technical area occupants did not engage in inappropriate and/or provocative behavior following the final whistle.
“The Liverpool manager allegedly acted inappropriately and/or used insulting and/or abusive remarks and/or actions towards both the match referee and an assistance referee after the game had ended.
“It is alleged that Liverpool’s assistant manager acted inappropriately and/or used disrespectful and/or abusive words and/or actions toward a match official, resulting in his dismissal. It is also alleged that after being sent off, he acted inappropriately and/or used insulting and/or abusive remarks and/or actions against a match official. Everton, Liverpool, Arne Slot, and Sipke Hulshoff have until next Wednesday, February 19, to respond.
What will happen now?
Liverpool now has three working days to appeal the judgment, which means Slot will take charge of Sunday’s Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. However, with Slot already serving a one-match touchline ban this season and having received three yellow cards in the league, his situation might be regarded ‘non-standard’ under FA guidelines, and he could face a longer suspension if proven guilty.
If the Reds appeal the charge, the FA will have until ‘by close of play on the third business day following the club’s response’. An independent commission will then hold a hearing ‘at the earliest opportunity but no later than 10 business days after the FA’s answer to the club’.
In principle, the procedure may last another few weeks. Liverpool face Wolves on Sunday before traveling to Aston Villa on Wednesday, February 19. They will then face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, February 23, and Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday, February 26. Liverpool will be without a fixture the weekend of Friday 28 February before meeting Southampton on Saturday 8 March as a result of their FA Cup exit. The Carabao Cup final against Newcastle at Wembley Stadium is slated for Sunday, March 16.
When Wolves striker Matheus Cunha was sent off during a 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town on December 14, he did not get a two-game suspension until December 31.
Touchline bans are not competition-specific. Slot’s previous suspension was for three league bookings, but he was barred from coaching a 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final victory against Southampton in December. Instead, he watched the game from the St Mary’s press box.
What Slot said:
Slot admits that emotions got the best of him following the Everton draw and that, in retrospect, he would not have responded the way he did. That means he may accept his sentence rather than appeal, which might result in a lengthy touchline ban before the Carabao Cup final, but it could also be in place for league games against Manchester City and Newcastle.
The Liverpool manager said: “I believe what occurred was that the extra time, the extra five minutes that turned into eight, a lot happened, and my emotions got the best of me. Looking back, I’d like to have done things differently. I hope to do it differently next time. What specifically was said or what happened, I just told you there is an ongoing process that I do not want to disrupt.”
