Even though Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted he did not intend to cast doubt on referee Paul Tierney’s honor, the Football Association has charged him with inappropriate conduct.
While attributing the Reds manager’s wild celebration in front of fourth official John Brooks or his suggestions to the emotion of a last-second 4-3 victory over Tottenham after being up 3-0, Tierney “had history” with the club, according to Klopp, who insisted that he never intended to smear.
The German manager said the referee told him his antics on the touchline were deserving of a red card, but Tierney instead elected to award a yellow card on the suggestion of Brooks, thus doing Klopp a favor.
After the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) rejected Tierney’s actions as “improper” and insisted a review of the recording proves Tierney behaved in a “professional manner,” Klopp, 55, said what Tierney said to him was “not OK” and insisted he has not lied about the interaction.
However, it was Klopp’s assertions that the referee was siding with Liverpool because of prior encounters that earned him a misconduct charge and a lengthy touchline suspension.
They “implicate bias, question the integrity of the referee, are personal or offensive, and/or bring disrepute to the game,” according to the FA’s statement.
Klopp, who has until Friday to reply, remarked, “I probably have to expect the punishment,” before being informed of the charge.
“I believe the referees believe I questioned the integrity (of their colleague), yet in that instant, all I did was express my emotions, contrary to what I would say if I were calm and sitting here.
“I’m positive he isn’t doing it on purpose, but I can’t deny our relationship has a history.
“Of course they weren’t done on purpose, but they’re still there, and it’s just a feeling.
“I know what I said really riled up the officials, so go for it,” I said. I was caught lying.
“I accomplished a lot that day, but I didn’t lie. Although there were a few things I should not have said, lying was not one of them.
After the FA successfully appealed against an independent regulatory commission’s decision to only fine Klopp £30,000 for his behavior in confronting assistant referee Gary Beswick and subsequently being sent off by referee Anthony Taylor, Klopp was given a one-game suspension in November.
He expressed regret for once more letting his feelings rule his behavior.
He stated, “I genuinely regret that, but we won a football game 4-3 in a really spectacular way, and the only headlines are the ones I produced. “It is neither essential nor the proper way to do things.
“The entire incident shouldn’t have taken place. At the time, it was motivated by emotion and rage. That is why I celebrated in the manner that I did.
“Paul Tierney approached me, and I in no way anticipated receiving a red card. Although I recently received a red card, I never for a moment thought I would receive another one because I didn’t think it was fair.
“He (Tierney) said to me, ‘For me it’s a red card but because of him’ – that’s what I understood because it was loud in the stadium – ‘but because of him (Brooks)’ it’s yellow. exhibited a golden and grinned at me. I’m done now.
“After the final horn, we go inside, and although I tried to calm down, it didn’t go well, so I said what I said.
“I remarked, ‘What he said to me was not OK,’ and I believed it to be unlawful because, in my opinion, it did not merit a red card.
“I realize I unlocked the box. I didn’t mean to open it, but I did.
On Wednesday, Liverpool takes on Fulham in an attempt to keep up their unusual pursuit of Champions League participation.
The manager will unavoidably come under more scrutiny, but he claimed: “If there is one nice thing, I would rather be in that scenario than any player.
We’ll have to wait and see, but I don’t think it will affect the team.
