Liverpool manager Arne Slot has run the risk of a heightened punishment with his comments about referee Tony Harrington after Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Fulham. The Reds dropped two points at Anfield, having played over 80 minutes with 10 men after Andy Robertson’s early red card.
Andreas Pereira and Rodrigo Muniz handed Fulham the lead twice, but goals from Cody Gakpo and substitute Diogo Jota spared Slot his second Premier League defeat.
The visitors benefitted from Robertson’s dismissal to earn a point that would’ve pleased Marco Silva despite squandering two leads.
After full-time, Slot said that an injury suffered earlier in the match impacted the Liverpool left-back’s pace when he brought down Harry Wilson and denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
“I think Robbo might have been a bit too injured to keep going because normally he’s faster than that,” the Dutchman claimed.
Robertson picked up the issue under a poor challenge from Issa Diop in the match’s opening minutes.
The Fulham centre-back’s late leg clattered into Robertson, earning him a yellow card that Slot and Liverpool‘s supporters were adamant should’ve been red.
And the Reds boss’ post-match comments on the incident suggested that Harrington’s officiating throughout the game favoured the visitors.
He explained: “If I looked back at the whole 100 minutes I saw, I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t give a red card. It’s up to you how you want to read this comment!”
Slot was booked himself later in the stalemate, meaning he will serve a one-match touchline ban at Tottenham next weekend.
He had already accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the season, meaning he will now watch the clash in north London from the stands.
However, Slot’s sly dig at Harrington at Anfield could result in further punishment during a critical stage of the season as Liverpool fend off competition at the Premier League summit.
It is likely any further punishment would come in the form of a heavy fine rather than an extension to his touchline ban.
In November last year, the Mail reported that Premier League and EFL managers had been warned about their public criticism of referees.
It was claimed that the FA had made it clear that coaches could face touchline bans if they aimed heavy fire at officials in their press conferences and interviews.
The decision was said to have followed a meeting between the FA and the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL).
Clubs could also reportedly be hit with more significant fines if such comments are considered out of line, meaning Slot is playing with fire.