Amazon Prime 'apologise to Liverpool' over Arne Slot controversy at Newcastle
Liverpool have received an apology from Amazon Prime after suggesting Arne Slot went into the referee's dressing room, according to The Times.
According to the outlet's website on 5 December, the broadcaster apologised to Slot and his team after “wrongly implying” that the manager tried to influence the referee at half-time.
This incident occurred after presenter Dan Walker suggested during the interval the Dutchman had entered the referee’s dressing room. It was implied that Slot had raised concerns over three Liverpool players being booked by half-time.
This sparked controversy, especially after Eddie Howe expressed his anger that his opposite number had been in direct contact with referee Andy Madley [The Mirror].
However, the report confirms that the Reds’ coach didn’t enter the room and spoke in a “normal way” in the tunnel.
Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett had been outraged at the apparent break from protocol, telling Football Insider that Howe was right to be upset. However, this was before the apology was made public and the matter considered "closed".
Liverpool held by Newcastle despite Mohamed Salah double
Football Insider opinion
At the time of the incident, Aleksander Isak put the Geordies ahead 1-0 with a rocket from outside the box.
It was a frustrating first half for the away side as Alexis Mac Allister, Jarell Quansah and Ryan Gravenberch all received yellow cards.
Initially, it was suggested that Slot entered the dressing room to address this issue. However, it’s unlikely that anything came of it, as two more Reds' players received yellow cards in the second half.
The Merseyside club upped the ante and scored quickly through a Curtis Jones finish that rifled the net.
Despite Antony Gordon’s goal to make it 2-1, Mohammed Salah proved his worth again by scoring two quick goals.
An error from Caoimhin Kelleher allowed Fabian Schar to slide the ball in during the stoppage-time to make it 3-3.
However, more controversy arose just before full-time as Madley decided to blow the final whistle moments after the 95th minute. This came despite the home side countering in numbers.
Hackett reacted instantly to Football Insider, saying: “[It’s] just not right, and Andy Madley has created controversy that could have been avoided with a couple more minutes of added time.”
Newcastle fans have a right to feel aggrieved, but they are now 10th in the table.
Liverpool dropping points allowed Manchester City to regain confidence after a stellar Kevin De Bruyne performance that had fans raving.
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