REVEALED: FA release taped transcript of Jurgen Klopp’s altercation with referee Paul Tierney – and what the Liverpool boss said was ‘WRONG’ for an official to say – as he receives a one-match ban
Jürgen Klopp has been suspended for one match after accusing referee Paul Tierney of bias following Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Tottenham last month.
Klopp was handed a touchline ban following his post-match comments, the first of which took effect immediately.
The second game of the ban is suspended until the end of the 2023/24 season provided he commits no further offenses in the meantime.
Klopp has also been fined £75,000.
“Jürgen Klopp admitted that his comments about the match referee during post-match media interviews constituted inappropriate behavior as they implied bias, questioned the integrity of the referee, were personal and abusive and brought the game into disrepute,” said a spokesman. statement from the FA.
Jürgen Klopp has been banned from the touchline for his comments about referee Paul Tierney
The FA released a transcript of the conversation between Klopp and Tierney during the match
Klopp had launched an astonishing attack on Tierney following his side’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur on April 30.
Diogo Jota’s stoppage time secured the three points for the Reds, with Klopp sprinting to fourth official John Brooks and cheering in his face before stumbling back to his technical zone after pulling a hamstring.
Tierney then booked the Liverpool boss, who had been furious at the decision to award Tottenham a free-kick that led to Richarlison’s equaliser.
Klopp told Sky Sports after the game: “What he (Tierney) said to me when he gave me the yellow card…” You can’t. But it’s not okay either.’
The FA has released a transcript of the conversation between Tierney and Klopp.
The entry read: “Mr Brooks contacted Mr Tierney and said: “Jurgen Klopp has just run and celebrated in my face. I think it’s at least a yellow card.”
It is clear that Mr Brooks viewed Mr Klopp’s behavior as a misguided celebration rather than an aggressive or threatening move.
Mr Tierney replied saying he didn’t see what happened and needed advice on whether the penalty should be a yellow or red card.
Klopp had claimed that what Tierney had said to him before his yellow card was ‘not okay’
The video assistant referee looked at the video footage and advised “Yellow card confirmed. Jurgen Klopp yellow card confirmed.”
Armed with this confirmation, Mr Tierney went to Mr Klopp and showed him a yellow card and said, ‘Okay… I need to show you yellow… it could be red, but I’m going to show you yellow . He said yellow. We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, do nothing more….”
“Mr Klopp’s frustrated reaction is clearly visible in the video footage.”