Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been handed a two-match touchline ban following his post-game reaction after the Merseyside derby.
The Football Association (FA) brought charges against Liverpool, Everton, the Liverpool head coach and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff after the final derby at Goodison Park ended in acrimonious circumstances after James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute equaliser for the home side to earn a 2-2 draw.
Slot and his assistant Hulshoff, alongside Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones were all shown red cards after the full-time whistle.
Doucoure celebrated in front of the Liverpool away section and Jones pushed the Everton player away, sparking a melee involving multiple players from both teams.
Both clubs were charged with failing “to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way following the final whistle.”
The FA also brought charges against Slot and Hulshoff for “acting in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour” towards match officials after the match had finished. Hulshoff also faced the same allegation for an incident after receiving his red card.
Liverpool and Everton players clashed after the final whistle (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Slot later said that “emotions got the better of me” in the aftermath of the game.
He will now miss the games with Newcastle United and Southampton as will Hulshoff, who was also handed the same suspension. Both men were informed of their punishment on Tuesday evening with John Heitinga to take charge of the first team in Slot’s place.
Slot was also fined £70,000 and Hilshoff £7,000. Both Everton (£65,000) and Liverpool (£50,000) were also fined following a hearing.
An FA statement on Wednesday read: “An independent regulatory commission has sanctioned Everton, Liverpool, Arne Slot and Sipke Hulshoff in relation to the Premier League fixture between the clubs on Wednesday 12 February.
“It was alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way following the final whistle. Everton and Liverpool admitted the charges, and the regulatory commission imposed £65,000 and £50,000 fines on them respectively following a hearing.
“It was alleged that the Liverpool head coach acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards both the match referee and an assistant referee after the match had finished. Arne Slot admitted the charge, and the Regulatory Commission imposed a two-match touchline suspension and £70,000 fine.
“It was alleged that the Liverpool assistant head coach acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official, which led to his dismissal. It was further alleged that he acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official after being sent off. Sipke Hulshoff admitted the charge, and the Regulatory Commission imposed a two-match touchline suspension and £7,000 fine.
“The regulatory commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course.”
(Top photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
