Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been handed a touchline ban and fined £75,000 following media comments that he made regarding referee Paul Tierney after the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield last month. Following the spectacular 4-3 win by his side, Klopp spoke about his latest incident with the 42-year-old which saw him booked. "We have our history with Tierney," Klopp said to Sky Sports.
Klopp celebrated Diogo Jota’s injury-time winner against Spurs fourth official John Brooks after previously being angered by a number of decisions. The Professional Game Match Officials Board later issued a statement defending Tierney’s behaviour after listening to audio footage of his exchange with Klopp around the booking.
The first match of Klopp’s ban is effective immediately meaning he will not be present on the touchline for Liverpool's Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Anfield. A Football Association statement read: "Jurgen Klopp has been suspended from the touchline for two matches and fined £75,000 following media comments that he made after Liverpool’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 30 April 2023.
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"The first match of the manager’s touchline ban is effective immediately and the second is suspended until the end of the 2023/24 season on the condition that he does not commit any further breaches of FA Rule E3 in the meantime. Jurgen Klopp admitted that his comments regarding the match referee during post-match media interviews constitute improper conduct as they imply bias, question the integrity of the referee, are personal, offensive, and bring the game into disrepute."
An independent Regulatory Commission imposed these sanctions following a hearing. And in their written reasons, they included a transcription of what Tierney, who was wearing a microphone, said to Klopp when showing him a yellow card.
Their report states: "Mr Brooks contacted Mr Tierney and said: 'Jurgen Klopp has just run and celebrated in my face. I think it’s a yellow card mate, minimum.'
"It is clear that Mr Brooks considered Mr Klopp’s conduct to be misplaced celebration rather than an aggressive or threatening move. Mr Tierney responded, saying that he had not seen what happened and needed advice whether the sanction should be a yellow or red card.
"The Video Assistant Referee reviewed the video footage and advised, 'Confirming yellow card. Confirming yellow card Jurgen Klopp.' Armed with this confirmation Mr Tierney went to Mr Klopp and showed him a yellow card, saying: 'Right…I have to show you yellow…it could be red, but I am going to show you yellow. He said yellow. We will give you the benefit of the doubt, don’t do anything more.'
"Mr Klopp’s frustrated reaction can be clearly seen in the video footage," the report concluded. The Liverpool boss had previously been absent from the sidelines for the Reds’ 3-1 victory over Southampton back in November after serving a previous touchline ban for his conduct during his side’s 1-0 victory over Man City.
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