Arne Slot, Liverpool, Everton
Arne Slot, Liverpool, Everton
Keith Hackett suggested the idea of interviewing referees after matches following Arne Slot’s meltdown during the 2-2 draw between Everton and Liverpool.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that questions not being posed to referees about their decisions brings about an “unfairness” to managers.
Michael Oliver’s performance was heavily criticised when the two sides met at Goodison Park in February, with James Tarkowski netting a dramatic late equaliser, but it was Slot who stole the headlines.
After both Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones were sent off after the final whistle, the Reds’ boss walked over to the match officials before also being shown a red card, facing a two-match ban and £70,000 fine.
Arne Slot punished after Everton v Liverpool
Slot clearly had a lot to say about the referee’s performance, and while he likely regretted his actions, fans were furious that Oliver did not have to own up to his decisions after the full-time whistle.
This is a continuous trend in the Premier League, especially true after Thomas Bramall’s crucial blunder in Aston Villa’s defeat to Man United in the final game of the 2024/25 campaign, costing the club Champions League football.
Hackett, therefore, brought up the idea of interviewing Premier League referees, and attempting to understand their decisions and thought process, after attempting it himself as PGMOL boss.
Michael Oliver
Arne Slot was furious with Michael Oliver at full-time. (Credit Imago)
Keith Hackett suggests referee interviews in the Premier League
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said:“Passion is the driver, and a sense of fair play. Managers need to recognise that referees will sometimes make errors, and sometimes they’re compounded because they have an effect on the game.
“As a result of that, it’s not expecting managers to bite their tongues, but to be more considered. In terms of fines and punishments, there is a sliding scale that managers will be aware of.
“The pressure that managers are under… a loss is now almost a sentence of losing their job, not that Slot was ever in that position. The referee’s performance on the day was not good enough, let’s make no mistake.
Credit: Hasan Karim – Breaking Media
“We need improved standards of behaviour and improved standards of officiating. There’s an unfairness that referees are never interviewed after the match, but the manager is, with all the disappointment or elation. The mind is spinning at that point.
“With post-match interviews with referees, I tried to start that as the boss of the PGMOL. Within almost hours of Rob Styles doing it, the management of a club was absolutely incensed, as they thought the process of appealing a red card had been taken away.
“As a result of that, it was killed off by the Premier League.”