Nottingham Forest incident from 2024 submitted as evidence by Arne Slot to the FA over Liverpool ban

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Nottingham Forest are enjoying a brilliant season and remain the only team to defeat Liverpool in the Premier League during 2024/25.

Not that Arne Slot ever mentions it…

Since the 1-0 win at Anfield in September, Forest have been living inside the head of a manager who in a few weeks will lift a Premier League title in his maiden season in English football.

The manager has been rattled by the Reds though. In the aftermath, Slot kept bringing up the Forest defeat on home soil thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal.

Slot gave Forest a special mention to end 2024. The Reds were the only team in England or Holland to get the better of the boss during the calendar year and clearly that bothers him a bit.

During the 1-1 City Ground draw in January, the Reds fans serenaded the Liverpool boss all night even if Slot did then praise a Forest star afterwards.

At least the Liverpool boss is consistent and after receiving a two-match touchline ban from the FA, it would appear he’s been gossiping about Forest all over again.

• READ MORE: Arne Slot fuming with his side during the 1-1 Forest draw

Arne Slot mentions Forest incident from 2024 in FA hearing

It’s becoming a trendy thing for managers, coaches and players to bemoan match officials after poor results – and Forest aren’t squeaky clean in that sense either.

Arsenal have been a joke for it this season and Liverpool haven’t been much better either.

After a 2-2 draw with Everton, which saw the Toffees salvage an injury time point, Slot was dismissed by Michael Oliver for foul and abusive language.

He’s now been given a two-match ban and according to the Daily Mail, Slot cited Steven Reid’s charge from last season’s game against Liverpool as a defence in his case.

Reid told Paul Tierney exactly what he thought of him after he’d applied the law incorrectly, which led to Liverpool’s last minute winner at the City Ground.

The former Forest coach was given a two-match ban and a hefty fine, with Forest left to rue the decision and accept the defeat.

Abuse of match officials is on the rise

This is one of the things that is destroying the beautiful game and sadly, there is little sign of things being improved any time soon.

It all starts from the top. Youngsters at grassroots level seem to see the likes of Slot and Espirito Santo behaving as they do and then think it’s fair game in their games at the weekend.

Match officials have to earn respect but given how players at the top level talk to them, it’s amazing that they manage to keep so composed out on the pitch.

BBC Sport claimed that assault of referees at grassroots level was up by 32% last year and that has to change in the coming years.

The likes of Slot need to take a long, hard look at themselves and this constant moaning and whining and accusations of bias after every defeat simply has to cease.