ARNE Slot told referee Michael Oliver that he would “F*****G BLAME” him if Liverpool did not win the league in a four-letter torrent of abuse after last month’s Merseyside derby.
Reds boss Slot was handed a two-match ban and fined £70,000 for his meltdown after the 2-2 Goodison draw.
GETTYArne Slot had some choice words for Michael Oliver after the Merseyside derby[/caption]
GETTYThe Dutchman was given a red card and subsequently slapped with a two-match ban[/caption]
REUTERSThe FA have revealed the full written reasons for Slot’s punishment[/caption]
And the FA has now published the full written reasons for the penalties imposed on Slot, his assistant Sipke Hulshoff and BOTH clubs after incidents sparked by Abdoulaye Doucoure’s stoppage-time equaliser celebrations.
The three-person commission explained: “It was reported by the Referee that following the full-time whistle, he was approached by Arne Slot who had entered the field of play to confront the Referee and the Match Officials team.
“Tensions were running high. It was alleged that Arne Slot’s manner was confrontational and aggressive.
“It was alleged that he initially used abusive words whilst shaking the Referee’s hand.
“Including that the Referee had ‘f****** give them everything’ and that he hoped that the Referee “was proud of that performance.”
“The Referee thereafter confirms (having reviewed the video footage to clarify) that he was approached again by Arne Slot around one minute later.
“In this exchange, Arne Slot once again shook the Referee’s hand and said, ‘If we don’t win the league, I’ll f****** blame you.”
“It is then further alleged that Arne Slot turned to the Assistant Referee and shouted twice that it was ‘a f****** disgrace.’
GettyArne Slot said he’d blame Michael Oliver that he’d blame him if Liverpool didn’t win the league[/caption]
REUTERSSlot will be suspended for Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Southampton on Saturday[/caption]
“As a result, he was shown a red card by the Referee.”
Oliver also reported that Hulshoff, who also received a two-game touchline ban but was only fined £7,000, had continued the verbal fusillade.
The commission said: “Hulshoff is alleged to have entered the field of play following the full-time whistle to confront the Referee in an ‘extremely aggressive manner.’
“It is alleged he said the Referee was ‘f*****g’ s**t’ and ‘gave them everything’ and he was a ‘f****** disgrace.’
“We are advised that the Referee attempts to remove himself from the situation to deal with the dismissals of Jones and Doucoure but Hulshoff continues to follow him and is eventually restrained by colleagues, but continues to shout ‘f****** shit.’ He was also shown a red card by the Referee and dismissed.”
While both Slot and Hulshoff admitted their misconduct charges, the manager “disputed” Oliver’s version of events.
He claimed he had actually said: “If we don’t win the league, I will have you to thank for that” but conceded his actions were “unacceptable”.
But the panel determined it was “more likely than not” that Oliver’s recall was correct, pointing out that Slot was a “role model” who “should be exercising good discipline both on and off the pitch, and setting an example to his players”.
The commission, headed by leading sports solicitor Laura McCallum, accepted that the last Merseyside derby at Goodison before Everton’s move to their new home at Bramley Moore Dock had taken place in an “emotional atmosphere both on and off the pitch.”
It condemned Doucoure for his response to the final whistle, which ended in an angry altercation involving Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, players from both sides, police and stewards.
Both Doucoure and Jones were handed second yellow cards and dismissed and the commission ruled: “Instead of celebrating with his teammates or indeed his own supporters, Doucoure chooses to run 20-25 yards and goad the Liverpool support.
“We consider that that was inflammatory in itself and but for that action, the mass confrontation may have been avoided.
“Equally, Curtis Jones’ actions in response were aggressive and disproportionate.
PACurtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure’s red cards sparked pandemonium[/caption]
PAA mass melee ensued, which ressulted in both clubs being fined for failing to control their players[/caption]
“Once Doucoure and Jones come together, Doucoure is supported by two other Everton players.
“Instead of pulling him away, they appear to back him up aggressively so it becomes three against one.
“This causes the confrontation to spiral with more and more players running into the melee, with involvement then from police officers and stewards.”
Both clubs argued for the “standard penalty” of £20,000 for failing to control their players, but Everton were fined £65,000 and Liverpool £50,000.
Slot initially refused to divulge details of his interaction with Oliver after the match but admitted he’d overstepped the mark.
He said: “The emotions got the better of me. If I could [do] it differently, I would love to. I would hope to do it differently next time.
“There were many things that happened in extra-time that led me to being emotional.
“But there is a process now which I have to respect so I won’t go into details.
“There was a VAR check and then five minutes of extra-time ended up as eight minutes, a lot of things happened that led me to be emotional.
“But it wouldn’t be smart to go into every incident.”
Slot’s ban saw him miss the Reds’ 2-0 win over Newcastle United last Wednesday.
The suspension will also see the 46-year-old miss Saturday’s visit of Championship-bound Southampton.
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