Arne Slot withdraws from annual LMA due to Liverpool victory parade incident

Arne Slot, the head coach of Liverpool, chose to withdraw from the League Managers Association’s (LMA) annual awards ceremony in London on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 following a tragic incident during the victory parade.

The victory parade was to celebrate Liverpool’s success at lifting the 2024/25 English Premier League trophy.

The event was also supposed to celebrate Slot’s impressive achievement of winning the Premier League title in his first season in English football.

Slot was scheduled to receive both the LMA Manager of the Year award and the Premier League’s Manager of the Season award.

However, his plans changed in light of a deeply upsetting incident in Liverpool city centre on Monday.

A car drove into a crowd gathered on Water Street, injuring 65 people, including men, women, and children who had come out to celebrate the club’s success.

In response to the tragedy, Slot, along with senior officials from Liverpool FC, decided it would be inappropriate to attend the awards dinner or participate in any internal celebratory events.

As a mark of respect and solidarity with those affected, Liverpool FC cancelled all internal activities scheduled following the parade.

Slot conveyed his sincere apologies to the LMA and the organisers of the event.

He sent a heartfelt letter in which he expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic events that had unfolded.

In his message, 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.”

He went on to express gratitude toward the football community for their support, including the LMA, the Premier League, and various clubs represented at the awards event.

Slot emphasized that although football thrives on competition and rivalry, it also brings people together during difficult moments, showcasing a strong sense of unity.

Slot also took a moment to acknowledge the emergency services and other local authorities in Liverpool who acted quickly and decisively after the incident.

He praised their swift response and paid tribute to the bystanders and supporters who stepped in to help those in need.

In his words, “everyone involved in the aftermath deserves the gratitude of all of us.”

Despite his absence from the ceremony, Slot expressed how honored he felt to receive the Premier League Manager of the Season title and the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy for LMA Manager of the Year.

He particularly noted the significance of the latter award, as it was voted on by his fellow managers, making it especially meaningful.

He addressed Sir Alex Ferguson directly in his letter, saying he looked forward to the opportunity to meet him and receive the trophy in person at a later date.

Slot also expressed hope that he would be able to attend a future LMA Annual Awards dinner.

He reiterated his appreciation for the support and understanding shown by the LMA and the football community as a whole.

He concluded his letter with a respectful message to those attending the dinner:

“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.”

In summary, Slot’s absence from the LMA awards was a gesture of empathy and respect.

It underlines the importance of compassion and unity in moments of crisis, even amid personal and professional triumphs.

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