Jurgen Klopp has revealed he is prepared to speak to match officials to offer a personal apology after being charged with improper conduct by the FA.
The Liverpool manager is facing a serious sanction - which could potentially extend to a three, four or even five-game touchline ban - after what the FA describe as questioning the integrity of the referee Paul Tierney following Sunday’s showdown with Spurs.
The governing body outlined their case against Klopp in a written statement on Tuesday evening, with a charge for “comments regarding the match official during post-match media interviews (which) constitute improper conduct in that they imply bias, and/or questioning the integrity of the referee, and/or are personal/offensive, and/or bring the game into disrepute".
Klopp now has until the end of the week to respond to the charge, and admitted that he went too far in his emotional post-match reaction following Liverpool’s late win over Tottenham.
Addressing the fallout from a tumultuous contest, he said when asked if he will contact the officials: “I will consider [getting in touch], definitely.
“OK, well we don't have numbers for referees and I have to be honest, I haven't thought about that yet but I can do that easily. That is not a problem. I could do it, I didn't even think about it.”
Klopp revealed that he had still to hear from the FA over potential charges late on Tuesday afternoon, but admitted he expected a punishment after a backlash from referees.
“I have no clue what is happening now. Everyone tells us something will come,” he said ahead of the Premier League game with Fulham.
“I probably have to expect a punishment - I think the refs think I questioned the integrity (of their colleague). When I am calm and sitting here I don’t do that, but in the (heat of the) moment I just describe my feelings.
“I know the refs were really angry about what I said and go now for it.”
Klopp is yet to decide if he will contest any charges, but there is a feeling the FA are ready to get tough with the Liverpool manager, following a series of incidents this season.
They appealed a decision not to ban him following an outburst against Manchester City, when he was charged with improper conduct earlier this season, and the punishment was subsequently upgraded to a one-game ban.
This time, any ban could be even bigger, with Klopp not only deemed to have implied bias amongst the officials, but was also caught screaming in the face of fourth official John Brooks.
