Former referee Keith Hackett believes points deduction sanctions could come into force if managers and players are guilty of confronting officials on the pitch more often. The issue of managers confronting referees on the field of play reared its head after Liverpool boss Arne Slot was sent off at the end of the Merseyside Derby with Everton....Read Full Article >>➤
The Reds boss had just seen his side concede a 98th minute goal to draw 2-2 in the final ever derby at Goodison Park. James Tarkowski’s equaliser came after only five minutes were added on at the end of the match and Slot made his feelings clear to referee Michael Oliver with a few words and a vigorous handshake.
Slot was shown a red card, as was assistant Sipke Hulshoff, with both men receiving a two-game touchline ban too. The match ended with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones also seeing red for a fracas after the final whistle. It was an unsavoury end to the match and has led to Hackett suggesting heftier punishments.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “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.
“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 vs Arsenal (in the 1990s) where I was the man in the middle.”
Arsenal were slapped with a two-point deduction after that game, while Manchester United were hit with a one-point penalty. And it got us to thinking about what could have happened this season had that same rule applied.
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