Joe
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has suggested that the league could be tempted to introduce points deductions for managerial misconduct following Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s outburst at referee Michael Oliver.
Slot was furious after Oliver failed to disallow James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute equalizer for Everton in last month’s Merseyside derby. The Dutchman believed Everton striker Beto had pushed Ibrahima Konaté in the buildup to Tarkowski’s goal, which secured a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.
In the aftermath, Slot confronted Oliver and received a red card. He was later handed a two-match touchline ban, which will conclude after Liverpool’s upcoming fixture against Southampton. Reports claim that while shaking Oliver’s hand, Slot remarked, “If we don’t win the league, I’ll [expletive] blame you.”
Reflecting on the incident, Slot admitted he let his emotions get the better of him. “If I could do it differently, I would. I’ll handle it differently next time as well,” he said.
Slot is not the only Premier League manager to have clashed with officials this season. Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler and Nottingham Forest’s Nuno Espírito Santo were both sent off when their sides met in September. The increasing frequency of these incidents has led Hackett to warn that stricter measures, including potential points deductions, could be considered.
“I would like to see referees head straight to the tunnel at full-time rather than standing around for handshakes and potential confrontations,” Hackett told Football Insider. “This could help diffuse tensions.”
He also suggested that if financial penalties fail to curb inappropriate behavior, the Premier League might explore the option of docking points. “The last time points deductions were used for an on-field mass confrontation was in a match between Manchester United and Arsenal in the 1990s, when I was the referee,” Hackett recalled.
In that infamous clash, Arsenal were hit with a two-point deduction, while Manchester United lost one point. However, despite Hackett’s recommendation, there is currently no indication that the Premier League is considering implementing such sanctions.
