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Arne Slot pulled out of the League Managers Association’s annual awards dinner in London on Tuesday after the appalling incident at the end of Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade.
The Liverpool head coach was due to receive the LMA’s and the Premier League’s manager of the year awards at the event for winning the title in his first season in English football. However, in light of the incident in Liverpool city centre on Monday, when 65 people were injured when a car drove into a crowd on Water Street, Slot and a senior delegation of Liverpool officials decided they should not attend.
Liverpool cancelled all internal events after the incident and Slot felt it would be inappropriate to celebrate his achievements at the dinner. He sent a letter of apology to the LMA and event organisers in which he expressed his sadness at the horrific scenes that followed Liverpool’s trophy parade through the city.
Slot wrote: “As you will know, a shocking incident took place in Liverpool yesterday, one that left dozens of men, women and children who had attended our parade injured and as a result I have had to withdraw from the event out of solidarity with all affected. This is not a decision I have taken lightly but it is one that I feel is absolutely right given the seriousness of the situation. I hope that I have your understanding in this regard.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the wider football community, including the LMA itself, the Premier League and many clubs who will be represented tonight, for the support we have received over the last 24 hours. Football is and always should be a game built on rivalry, but it is also a great source of comradeship, especially at times like this.
“If you would indulge me, I would also like to pay tribute to the emergency services and other authorities in Liverpool who swung into action as soon as the incident happened. Along with the supporters and bystanders who helped one another in an hour of need, I think everyone involved in the aftermath deserves the gratitude of all of us.”
The Liverpool head coach said he was “humbled” to be named Premier League manager of the season and honoured to be awarded the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy for the LMA Manager of the Year, particularly as the latter was voted for by his managerial peers.
Slot said: “Sir Alex, I look forward to meeting with you at a later date to receive my trophy from you. I also look forward to attending my first LMA Annual Awards dinner on a future occasion. Thank you once again for your understanding and support. Enjoy your evening and if you could join me in keeping those affected by yesterday’s events in your thoughts and prayers it would be very much appreciated.”
