Premier League delete statement which revealed reason for Arne Slot red card vs Everton
Things got heated at full-time.
The Premier League has deleted a statement which suggested Arne Slot was sent off for using ‘offensive, insulting, or abusive language’ at the end of a chaotic Merseyside derby.
Tempers flared at Goodison Park at full-time after James Tarkowski’s last-minute goal rescued a 2-2 draw for Everton against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones were both sent off after the former sparked a mass brawl when he goaded Liverpool fans inside the stadium.
Slot was also given a red card after he confronted referee Michael Oliver at full-time following the dramatic ending.
On Thursday morning the Premier League appeared to confirm that Slot would serve a two-match touchline ban for the language he used towards the end of the game.
The statement read: ‘Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was dismissed at the end of the Merseyside derby for using offensive, insulting, or abusive language.’
However, that statement has now been deleted from their website, with reports now suggesting that no official has been made yet regarding charges for both clubs or a potential touchline ban for Slot.
While Slot’s sending off meant he was unable to speak to the media after the game, the Dutchman appeared to feel that there was a foul in the build-up to Everton’s equaliser.
After receiving his marching orders from Oliver, a second camera caught the Liverpool manager asking the referee: ‘You gave me a red for that?!’
Liverpool’s assistant coach, Sipke Hulshoff, was also sent in the aftermath of the game and could serve serve a touchline ban.
Should both Slot and Hulshoff be forced to serve a ban, assistant John Heitinga is likely to become the leading presence on the touchline when Liverpool host Wolves on Sunday.
Slot appeared to not be the only one disappointed by Oliver’s performance on the night, with former referee chief Keith Hackett labelling the display as ‘weak’.
‘The celebration of goals creates dangerous crowd surges. Thought Oliver was weak,’ Hackett wrote on social media.
The former referee added: ‘There was a lot wrong in this performance from Oliver. You are only has good as your last game. I would not be happy with that effort by him.’
Oliver was the centre of controversy late last month after his decision to send off Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly against Wolves.
The Gunners were ultimately able to successfully appeal the decision, with Micah Richards labelling the sending off as the ‘worst decision in Premier League history’.
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