Premier League title race: Could Arne Slot be banned for Liverpool’s game against Manchester City?
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was sent off against Everton and his response to an FA charge could have significant consequences in regard to a potential touchline ban.
Arne Slot has accepted an FA charge following his red card after the final whistle in the Merseyside derby against Everton.
The Dutch boss was shown a straight red card following his side’s 2-2 draw with rivals Everton at Goodison Park on February 12, while his assistant Sipke Hulshoff was also dismissed.
The duo were charged by the FA with acting in an “improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour” towards the officials on the night, and they have both chosen not to contest the allegations.
Slot was on the touchline against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday and against Aston Villa on Wednesday, but it is now up to the FA to decide the extent of the Dutchman’s punishment, with fears that the Reds boss could be banned for important upcoming fixtures.
However, there are a number of permutations that could impact the length of any ban, and it is uncertain at this stage how exactly he will be sanctioned.
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What games could Slot miss?
The fact that Slot accepted the FA’s charge will work in his favour when they decide the length and severity of any punishment, but it is difficult to see how he can avoid a touchline ban.
An independent panel will decide the manager’s punishment in the next 10 days, but with Liverpool’s match against Manchester City to come on Sunday, it would be surprising if he was banned from the sidelines at the Etihad.
The next game that he could miss would be when Newcastle United travel to Anfield in the Premier League on February 26, but there is a chance he could also miss his team’s league match against Southampton at home on March 8.
Having already served a suspension against Southampton in the EFL Cup quarter-final on December 18, Slot could face an extended ban for the red card he received against Everton.
There is a chance that the Liverpool head coach could miss his team’s match against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final on March 16 should the FA hand out a two-game suspension after Wednesday next week.
Regardless of the length of a ban, Slot and Hulshoff’s absence on the sidelines may mean former Everton centre-back John Heitinga could take charge on the touchline at some point.
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