AliousFormer PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett believes points deductions could become a reality if managerial misconduct continues, following the recent fines imposed on Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff after the heated Merseyside derby.
The match, which marked the last-ever league encounter between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park, ended in dramatic fashion. Everton’s James Tarkowski netted a last-minute equalizer, leading to furious protests from Liverpool over potential offside and foul calls. At full time, tensions boiled over when Abdoulaye Doucoure’s celebration provoked a reaction from Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, triggering confrontations between both teams.
Slot and Hulshoff escalated matters by approaching referee Michael Oliver in the center of the pitch, reportedly using expletives and aggressively confronting the official. As a result, both were sent off and later received two-match touchline bans, with Slot also handed a £70,000 fine. Liverpool and Everton were additionally fined for the post-match chaos.
It has now been revealed that Slot even went as far as telling Oliver he would hold him responsible if Liverpool failed to win the Premier League—a scenario that, at this stage, appears unlikely.
Hackett has weighed in on the situation, arguing that fines alone may not be enough to curb such incidents. If these sanctions fail to deter managers and club officials from heated confrontations, he suggests that the Premier League may need to introduce harsher penalties, including points deductions. He referenced a similar measure used in the 1990s when Manchester United and Arsenal were punished for an on-field brawl.
Hackett also proposed a preventive solution: referees should immediately head toward the tunnel after the final whistle rather than lingering on the pitch, as this could help defuse post-match tensions and prevent further confrontations.
Slot and Hulshoff are set to complete their bans on March 8, when Liverpool face Southampton at Anfield.
Alious
