Premier League deletes statement about two-match ban for Liverpool’s Slot

LIVERPOOL, England: The Premier League deleted a statement on its website on Thursday that said Liverpool manager Arne Slot had been handed a two-match touchline ban, after the Dutchman was sent off during a stormy end to Wednesday’s2-2 draw with Everton.

Slot was shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver for using “offensive, insulting or abusive language,” the league had said in the statement.

The post was deleted about an hour later. The league did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Red cards for managers typically result in one-game suspensions. If Slot does receive a two-match ban, he will miss Liverpool’s home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday and their February 19 game at Aston Villa.

The 46-year-old Dutchman has already served a one-match touchline ban this season, sitting out Liverpool’s League Cup clash with Southampton after being shown his third yellow card of the season during a 2-2 league draw against Fulham.

Liverpool assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff was also shown a red card during the post-game mayhem, meaning neither was permitted to speak to media after the match.

Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure and fellow midfielder Curtis Jones of Liverpool also picked up red cards in the post-game melee sparked when Doucoure celebrated James Tarkowski’s equaliser deep in added time in front of the away supporters.

Additionally, Liverpool and Everton have condemned the racist abuse received by home midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby after he was involved in a melee at full-time when the game ended in a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

Everton captain James Tarkowski equalised in the seventh minute of added time to spark wild celebrations before Liverpool substitute Curtis Jones took umbrage at Doucoure celebrating in front of the visiting fans.

Doucoure and Jones were shown red cards by referee Michael Oliver, who also brandished one at Liverpool manager Arne Slot after the final whistle.

“Such abuse is reprehensible and will not, and should not, be tolerated,” the two Premier League clubs said in a joint statement.

“Together, the two clubs will work with Merseyside Police, who are conducting an investigation with the aim of identifying the individuals responsible.”

Doucoure had posted an image of himself celebrating and paying homage to the Goodison Park faithful after what was the last Merseyside derby at the iconic stadium before Everton move to a new arena at Bramley-Moore Dock.

However, there were several comments of a racist nature on the post.

“We also encourage people who witness or experience online abuse to report and highlight it to the social media platforms on which it appears,” the clubs added.

“We must all, including the social media companies, take a zero-tolerance stance. Platforms need to take accountability and action to ban such abusers.”

Reuters has contacted Meta, which owns Instagram, for comment.