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18th May 2023

Jurgen Klopp given touchline ban for Paul Tierney comments

Charlie Herbert

Jurgen Klopp receives ban

Details of the conversation between officials have been released

Jurgen Klopp has been handed a match ban after accusing referee Paul Tierney of bias following his side’s 4-3 win over Tottenham last month.

The ban has been implemented with immediate effect, meaning that Klopp will watched Liverpool’s match against Aston Villa from the stands this Saturday.

He has also been handed a second match ban but this is suspended until the end of the 2023/24 season on the condition that he doesn’t commit any further offences.

He has also been fined £75,000.

After Diogo Jota’s stoppage time winner in the game against Spurs, Klopp sprinted over to fourth official John Brooks and celebrated in his face.

On the advice of the VAR, referee Tierney promptly booked Klopp for his behaviour, leaving the Liverpool boss furious.

A transcript of the discussion between Tierney, Brook and the Video Assistant Referee has been released.

After the game, Klopp launched a scathing attack on Tierney in which he suggested the English ref was biased against Liverpool.

Klopp said on Sky Sports after the game: “We have our history with Tierney, I really don’t know what he has against us. He has said there [are] no problems but that cannot be true.”

He added: “What he (Tierney) said to me then when he gave me the yellow card… That’s not possible. But it’s not OK as well.”

“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,” read an FA statement on Thursday.

“An independent Regulatory Commission imposed these sanctions following a subsequent hearing and its written reasons can be seen below.”

In a press conference the week after the events against Tottenham, Klopp told reporters: “I tried to calm down but it didn’t work out properly, go into all the interviews and then I said what I said. I know [Tierney] is not doing it intentionally but we have a history, you cannot deny that.

“I’m not a resentful person, not at all, but these kind things that have happened in the past in decisive games. They didn’t happen intentionally but they are still there. The referees are really angry about what I said. I shouldn’t have said a couple of things but lying was not involved.”

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