Arne Slot approaching Michael Oliver after the Merseyside Derby in February 2025
Arne Slot was sent off by Michael Oliver
Everyone loves a good title race wrought with twists and turns - that's what makes the Premier League special. But points deducted from Liverpool's total on top of the punishment owed to their head coach speaking his mind to a referee? We border on the realm of ridiculous with such a suggestion.
The last Merseyside derby lives on in our memories due to just how thrilling those final minutes turned out to be, and all for the wrong reasons in Liverpool's case. They conceded an equaliser well over the limit of stoppage time placed on the game by referee Michael Oliver, a post-match brawl in front of the away fans saw Curtis Jones dismissed and he was soon-after followed by Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff.
At that time, it appeared to be a result and reaction that may have suggested the wheels were coming off, though results since, both at Liverpool and Arsenal have seen to it that Slot's men already have one hand on the 2024/25 title.
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Now, we have got former head of the refereeing body PGMOL, Keith Hackett, expressing the view that the £50,000 fine handed to the club themselves, Slot's two-match touchline ban and personal £70,000 fine plus Hulshoff's same ban with a £7,000 fine are not enough. No, according to him the Football Association must consider bringing in points deductions as a consequence of such outbursts.
If there was ever the need for evidence of why referees are merely charged with enforcing the rules of game rather than making legislation, here is possibly the best example we will ever receive.
It is such a bewildering thought that managers or head coaches such as Slot would need to repress their emotions so much as to help their team avoid such a harsh sanction. This is a sport, that thousands go to watch and millions more watch from home willing their support for a team to do their best, so just think much that intensifies when it is your livelihood.
Granted, allegedly telling referee Oliver that, "If we don’t win the league, I’ll f***ing blame you," is a step too far, but Slot hasn't reacted like that for no reason whatsoever.
We're already in a Premier League era where some officials respond to any slight criticism by brandishing a card or sending a club's coach to the stands.
We might get Howard Webb appearing on Match Officials Mic'd Up making one promise or another to do better, or the Premier League Match Centre account on X posting statements live as games happening. It might be the most transparent the PGMOL have ever been explaining why decisions are made but there doesn't seem to be much eagerness to improve.
That is not all referees - there are some who should regard themselves in a higher esteem. Yet look at Oliver's case - he's one of the country's most experienced officials with 393 matches overseen, but has been at the heart of a number of refereeing controversies this season.
Earlier this year it was a red card for Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly that got rescinded - was he removed from duties the week after? No, he was referee for both Ipswich vs Villa and then the Merseyside derby.
What about the VAR that day at Wolves, Darren England, who failed to correct his colleague's error? He was overseeing the Reds at Bournemouth seven days later.
It's only took a rather scary incident for Oliver to be removed as a referee for the next round of domestic matches. Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was on the receiving end of a flying karate kick to the head from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the FA Cup and Oliver did not take any action to punish it - not even a yellow card - before VAR intervened.
It isn't like this idea of points deductions in response to coach's outbursts is something the FA are actively debating to introduce, it is just the suggestion of one pundit and that alone, but such outlandish ideas just aren't needed when we've got a tinder box waiting to go up in flames.
Before someone who has held such power amongst referees in England suggests how we further censor those most qualified to give constructive criticism, perhaps Mr Hackett should look inwards at his former organisation and analyse how they can improve confidence in their capabilities.