Paul Tierney has insisted he does not support Manchester United or Manchester City ahead of the FA Cup final, following criticism from Liverpool supporters.
Tierney has been on the receiving end of lots of barbs from Liverpool fans and the club’s manager Jurgen Klopp after their 4-3 win over Tottenham last month. Klopp is under investigation following a spiky post-match interview in which he insinuated that Tierney had a grudge against him and his team.
Officials are required to declare any allegiances to the PGMOL to ensure that they do not take charge of any matches in which there can be any perception of bias. Tierney has worked in the top flight since 2014 and is the only Premier League referee to have overseen a match featuring all 20 sides in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool have been officiated by Tierney on seven occasions this season and some of the decisions he has made has led fans to believe he might support a rival club. But Tierney has dispelled that myth after being appointed to take charge of the FA Cup final between United and City on June 3.
“It’s a great fixture to be refereeing too and although there is the common assumption that because I’m from Wigan I must support one of them, I was actually born in Belfast and only moved to Wigan when I was 11 and it’s actually going to be the first time that I’ve refereed a Manchester derby so I’m looking forward to it,” he told The FA.
“The first time I was involved at Wembley was as an assistant referee for the 2009 FA Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Chelsea and it’s just the best place to be involved in a football game.
“I’ve since been fortunate to referee there and be involved in more games and it’s something that always sticks with you. Obviously, this game is going to top the lot on a personal level, so I’m looking forward to it and hopefully the final will be a great game.”
Klopp is facing the threat of a heavy punishment from the FA following his comments about Tierney. “We have our story, our history with Mr Tierney,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
"I really don’t know what this man has with us. I really don’t know. He will always say there’s nothing – and it’s not true, it cannot be. I have to say. It cannot be, I don’t understand it. I’m really not sure if it’s me because he looks at me… I don’t understand it.”
Despite Klopp’s accusations, Tierney is clearly highly-rated by his employers, who have rewarded him with the FA Cup final. He will work alongside linesmen Neil Davies and Scott Ledger, fourth official Peter Bankes and VAR David Coote.
