A new report has shed more light on the reason Arne Slot was sent off following Wednesday’s Merseyside derby—and it wasn’t just due to his so-called “aggressive” handshake.
During the final moments of the Premier League match at Goodison Park, Everton captain James Tarkowski scored a dramatic equalizer in the 98th minute. However, after a lengthy VAR review, Slot and several Liverpool players were frustrated, believing Ibrahima Konaté had been fouled in the lead-up to the goal.
Slot’s frustration boiled over, and he was ultimately shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver. While many assumed his dismissal was solely because of his sarcastic handshake with the official, a report from The Daily Mail suggests otherwise.
According to sources close to the incident, Slot confronted Oliver at the final whistle, arguing there had been a push on Konaté. However, it wasn’t just the handshake that led to his sending-off. Instead, eyewitnesses claim Slot was dismissed for two separate “rants” that Oliver deemed worthy of a red card.
The FA is currently reviewing the incident, analyzing footage to determine whether Slot should face further disciplinary action.
Adding to the confusion, on Thursday morning, the Premier League mistakenly announced on its website that Slot would receive a two-match suspension—an error later attributed to human mistake.
Slot’s assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, was also dismissed after the match and may face a touchline ban.
Meanwhile, professional lip reader Jeremy Freeman has analyzed the footage and claims Slot shouted at one assistant referee, “That’s not a push? It’s a f**king disgrace… if you go and watch that again.” He then sarcastically told another official, “Well done,” before saying to Oliver, “Great game” ahead of the handshake.
As Oliver showed the red card, Slot reportedly responded, “Sure, you give me a red for that? I will check it out for later… me and you yeah? Sure, give me a red card… we’ll talk after?”
What are your thoughts on the incident? Let us know in the comments.
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