FA report reveals what Slot and Hulshoff told Michael Oliver following the Merseyside derby.
FA Report Reveals What Slot and Hulshoff Allegedly Said to Michael Oliver After the Merseyside Derby
An FA report has disclosed the remarks made by Arne Slot and Sipke Hulshoff to referee Michael Oliver following last month’s heated Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, which ended in a contentious 2-2 draw.
The match concluded in chaos, with Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure both receiving red cards after a post-game altercation triggered by the Everton midfielder’s taunting of Liverpool fans. The drama didn’t stop there, as Oliver also dismissed Liverpool’s head coach and his assistant for confronting him in an aggressive manner immediately after the final whistle.
As a result, both Slot and Hulshoff received two-game touchline bans, which started with Liverpool’s victory over Newcastle and will conclude with their upcoming match against Southampton.
What Did Slot and Hulshoff Say to Oliver?
On Tuesday, the FA published its written reasoning behind the sanctions imposed on the Liverpool duo and both clubs for the events of February 12.
According to the report, Slot initially approached Oliver and accused him of favoring Everton, saying he ‘gave them everything’ and sarcastically remarked that he should be ‘proud of that performance.’
In a second exchange shortly after, Slot again shook the referee’s hand and told him, “If we don’t win the league, I’ll [expletive] blame you.” He then allegedly turned to the assistant referee and twice shouted that the officiating was a “[expletive] disgrace.”
Hulshoff reportedly used strong language as well, describing Oliver’s performance with two expletives and calling him a “[expletive] disgrace.” The report further stated that Slot’s assistant continued to follow Oliver and had to be restrained by Liverpool’s backroom staff.
Slot’s Apology and the Aftermath
While frustration over officiating is understandable, abusive behavior toward referees—whether from players, coaches, pundits, or fans—is never acceptable. However, it’s clear why Slot and Hulshoff were furious at the end of the derby.
Both of Everton’s goals were highly controversial. The free kick leading to Beto’s goal was wrongly awarded against Ibrahima Konaté, and in stoppage time, James Tarkowski’s equalizer came after a clear foul on Konaté was ignored.
To his credit, Slot later admitted he should have handled the situation differently. The FA acknowledged his apology as a mitigating factor, reducing what would have been a three-match ban to two games—allowing him to be on the touchline for the Carabao Cup final.
Both Slot and Hulshoff have accepted their punishment and will look to move forward once their bans are served.
Meanwhile, Oliver has faced fresh criticism for failing to send off Millwall’s Liam Roberts for a dangerous challenge on Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, only for VAR to intervene. As debates over officiating standards continue, it remains to be seen whether referees will also be held accountable for their controversial decisions.
