Arne Slot: FA reveals Liverpool manager's X-rated Merseyside derby rant that led to red card and touchline ban
Updated 04/03/2025 at 20:00 GMT
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What Liverpool manager Arne Slot said to referee Michael Oliver at the end of an intense Merseyside derby has been revealed in a written explanation by the FA. The Dutchman was sent off at the end of the final Liverpool v Everton clash at Goodison Park, after James Tarkowski's 98th-minute equaliser, and was later fined and given a two-match touchline ban.
Highlights: Tarkowski strikes late as Jones, Doucoure and Slot see red in post-match chaos
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The FA has revealed what Liverpool manager Arne Slot said to referee Michael Oliver at the end of a dramatic 2-2 draw in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
James Tarkowski sparked wild scenes with his 98th-minute equaliser before Slot aimed an X-rated rant at Oliver at the full-time whistle.
The Dutchman was shown a red card and was later fined £70,000 and handed a two-match touchline ban, and the governing body has now provided a written explanation for the sanctions.
It read: "It was reported by the Referee that following the full-time whistle, he was approached by LFC's Arne Slot ("AS") who had entered the field of play to confront the referee and the match officials team. Tensions were running high.
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"It was alleged that AS' 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***ing give them everything' and that AS 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 AS around one minute later. In this exchange, AS once again shook the referee's hand and said 'If we don't win the league, I'll f***ing blame you'. It is then further alleged that AS turned to the assistant referee and shouted twice that it was 'a f***ing disgrace'.
"As a result of AS' conduct, he was shown a red card by the referee."
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Slot did dispute some of the language that it is alleged he used.
The letter continues: "It was alleged that AS said whilst shaking the Referee’s hand, ‘if we don’t win the league, I’ll f***ing blame you’.
"Instead, AS asserts that he in fact said, 'if we don't win the league, I will have you to thank for that'. The FA maintained that AS' language and words were as reported by the Match Officials. However, the FA argued that this discrepancy didn't make a material difference to the sanction, in any event, given the words used still constituted AS acting in an improper manner, and AS accepts the same.
"It should be noted that AS does not dispute stating 'f***ing disgrace' to the Assistant Referee.
"AS acknowledged that his actions were unacceptable and let his frustrations get the better of him due to him believing that certain key decisions made by the Match Officials did not go LFC's way.
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"He lodged a written statement as well as submissions on sanction. AS made a sincere apology both privately and in public, during a press conference, commenting that 'I think what happened was that the extra time, that additional five minutes that ended up being eight, a lot happened, and the emotions got the better of me. If I look back at it I would love to do it differently. I am hoping to do it differently next time as well.'"
Slot was banned for Liverpool's 2-0 win over Newcastle last week and will also miss the home match against Southampton on Saturday.
His assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff was also banned for two games and fined £7,000.
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Explaining the reasons for Hulshoff's punishment, the FA said: "Additionally, Sipke Hulshoff ("SH") 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 that SH said the Referee was 'f***ing s***' and 'gave them everything' and he was a 'f***ing disgrace'. We are advised that the Referee attempts to remove himself from the situation to deal with the dismissals of CJ [Curtis Jones] and AD [Abdoulaye Doucoure], but SH continues to follow him and is eventually restrained by colleagues, but continues to shout 'f***ing s***'. SH was also shown a red card by the Referee and dismissed."
Slot: 'I was quite emotional'
Slot was asked again about the incident in his press conference before the first leg of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
"The moment it happened, I was quite emotional for everything that had happened in the last seven or eight minutes, maybe the whole game," Slot said.
"I chose to go on the pitch instead of staying calm, stay inside and then talk to Michael. I don't have the same emotions now any more so I should set a better example than I set back then and not go back into this situation again.
"It's clear what I've written, what Michael has written. I think Michael has been in the news a lot recently, and I don't think it helps if I add something to that now I have my emotions under control."
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