Arsenal are continuing to battle Liverpool for the Premier League title but have an uphill task to close the 13-point gap.
The Gunners have a game in hand over the Merseyside club, but have just 11 matches left to play to try and win the league title. As the title race continues, a recent message sent to the Premier League has managed to get plenty of attention.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has suggested that the Premier League could implement points deductions for clubs following the punishment handed out to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. The Dutchman was given a two-match touchline ban and a £70,000 fine after being charged by the FA for receiving a red card in the aftermath of their 2-2 draw with Everton.
The FA's report stated that Slot "acted in an improper manner and/or using insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards both the match referee and an assistant referee". This led to comments being made by Hackett, suggesting a points deduction could be a more suitable punishment.
"I would like to see referees at the final whistle moving towards the tunnel rather than standing in the middle looking for handshakes and any complimentary comments," Hackett told Football Insider.
"This will I feel reduce any tensions that have built up in the game. I hope that the level of fines will receive a more controlled approach by the manager and his assistant.
"If these fines going forward do not have the desired effect then we may see points deductions coming into play. The last time they used that sanction for an on-field mass confrontation was in the game between Manchester United v Arsenal (in the 1990s) where I was the man in the middle."
With that in mind, football.london writers debate whether or not Premier League clubs should receive a points deduction over their manager's behaviour.
Mark Wakefield
From an Arsenal standpoint, it's understandable to want Liverpool to be handed a points deduction for Arne Slot's comments. It would help the Gunners in the title race here now and boost their chances of winning the league.
But the issue I have is, where do you draw the line? Would every fine or red card for a manager result in a points deduction or just a select few? Plus, what about when assistant managers or coaches are sent off for an outburst? Is that enough to warrant a points deduction that could severely impact a club's whole season?
Picture this scenario. Arsenal need a point to win the league title and get the draw, but are handed a points deduction because Mikel Arteta is handed a red card and a fine for being unhappy about a refereeing decision. What would the reaction be if that was to happen?
What about if a club was one point away from avoiding relegation but got handed a points deduction because their manager got a red card and a fine, and as a result, got relegated? There are a host of scenarios where a points deduction is far too harsh a punishment.
Points deduction are a significant decision for the Premier League or FA to make, and should never taken lightly regardless of the circumstances.
James Quinlan
We're venturing into the ridiculous if we're seriously considering points deductions because of a manager losing his rag with a referee.
Yes, I can understand why Arsenal would want points taken from Liverpool - they want the best possible opportunity to catch them. Yes, I also believe Arne Slot was extreme in his comments to Michael Oliver, a line was certainly crossed.
But as is said above, where do we draw the line? For one, it is astounding how referees can't take criticism to the point where they've had to resort to cards, sendings off and touchline bans for managers to censor them. At least they are punishments that can be lived with.
Threatening points deductions on top of that is certainly a step too far and if that is going to be the trajectory of the Premier League, those in power would be abusing it.
Isaac Seelochan
Handing points deductions out for managers' behaviour towards referees would only increase the abuse officials receive from fans, sadly. Everton and Nottingham Forest supporters, rightly or wrongly, fumed at the deductions their teams received over PSR breaches.
Imagine if the same punishment was handed out over something like this? Referees would become public enemy No. 1, even more than they are now!
Referees hate being at the centre of controversial decisions. Something like this would only put them in the spotlight more which they don't need.
Tom Coley
Football is making itself more and more hard to take seriously. Hackett is searching for a bit of the spotlight (as usual) and he has got it. There is no sense to this sort of thing.
We have seen too much of the game being influenced by panels and referees of late. Let's just leave this one right where it is. No, there should not be points deductions for crowding the referee.
The game is hot-headed and emotional. This does not excuse players reacting poorly to officials but individual bans and punishments are where the answer lies. Nobody wants the title to be decided by this sort of thing, just like they don't want it determined in a court room.
Jack Flintham
Having the threat of points deductions looming over clubs whose managers overstep the line between criticism and abuse would be a positive move for the game, in my opinion. At grassroots level, they have the respect campaign to ensure children and their parents don't take their disagreements with officials too far.
However, when you see those in the Premier League and Football League deciding to fly off the handle and threaten match officials, all that hard work is undone. As with misdemeanours across the sport, fines and touchline bans are not stopping managers conducting themselves poorly.
Perhaps it is only if the threat of points deduction is balanced over these clubs that this kind of thing will stop. I will caveat my argument by stating that I don't think first time offenders should be automatically docked points.
This should be a punishment for serial offenders who continuously try to exert pressure on match officials during games and/or abuse them. This deterrent should stop them from repeatedly committing offences against referees.
Kieran King
For me, introducing points deductions for managers misbehaving would overstep the mark. Yes, I agree with the principle and think managers, such as Arne Slot, should have a more a severe ban but I don't think that brandishing points penalties is the answer.
If you are going to introduce that for managers' behaviour, then what are we going to do when players misbehave? For example, are Everton and Liverpool going to be docked points for Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones getting involved in an altercation after the Merseyside derby? No.
I think Slot should be given a longer touchline ban and a heavier fine - rather than his two-match suspension. That way, it might have a more significant impact on Liverpool's form.
Amie Wilson
The game is all about passion and I think most fans like to see their manager kicking every ball on the touchline. The threat of a points deduction feels like it would zap some of that energy out of the game.
Yes, there should be punishments if managers go too far in regards to aiming abuse towards the referee. But I feel like it would take it the other way, with managers afraid to be out on their touchline and speak to the fourth official due to the threat of a deduction.
Then, where would it stop? Would every red card result in a deduction too - it feels like it would turn into the go-to punishment.
Leagues and positions could then be won or lost on the manager’s behaviour on the touchline, and that is not right. It could even lead to some of the passion being zapped out of the game, both on the touchline and in the crowd.
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