Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been hit with a Football Association (FA) charge of alleged improper conduct over his incendiary comments regarding referee Paul Tierney following Sunday’s Premier League win over Tottenham.
Klopp has until Friday to respond to the charge and allegations that his comments about Tierney “imply bias, and/or question the integrity of the referee, and/or are personal/offensive, and/or bring the game into disrepute”.
The German had said in his post-match interviews following the 4-3 thriller against Spurs that Tierney seemed to have something “against” Liverpool following previous run-ins, with Klopp having been booked and warned by the referee for celebrating Diogo Jota’s last-gasp winner at Anfield by running straight up to the fourth official.
Klopp was subject to strong criticism for both his touchline behaviour and subsequent comments about Tierney, expressing regret in a press conference held earlier on Tuesday in advance of tomorrow night’s top-flight clash with Fulham.
But such contrition was not enough to see Klopp escape an FA charge, with the governing body later confirming in a statement: “Liverpool FC’s Jürgen Klopp has been charged following their Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday 30 April.
“It is alleged that the manager’s comments regarding the match official during post-match media interviews constitutes improper conduct in that they imply bias, and/or question the integrity of the referee, and/or are personal/offensive, and/or bring the game into disrepute.
“Jürgen Klopp has until Friday 5 May to provide a response.”
Recounting the celebration to reporters on Tuesday, Klopp said: “The whole situation should not have happened. It was out of emotion and anger in that moment. That is why I celebrated the way I did.
“The no foul on Mo [Salah] was directly in front of my eyes. I should have just been happy when we scored but unfortunately I was still angry and that led to the way I celebrated.
“Paul Tierney came over to me, I did not expect a red card. I expected a yellow card. He said to me: ‘For me it’s a red card but because of him [the fourth official] it is a yellow’. I felt, ‘Red card? For what? That is how I left.
“I tried to calm down after the game but it did not work out properly and I said what I said. I understand I opened the box. It was not intentional but obviously I opened it.
“Maybe in that moment I should have just said, ‘He said to me it was a red card and I did not think it was a red card’.
“I know Paul Tierney is not doing it intentionally but we have this history and I cannot deny that. Things have happened in the past in decisive games for us. Of course they did not happen intentionally but they are still there.
“I really regret the headlines I created. I have no clue what happens now. We have not heard anything yet from the FA or the refs.”
Asked whether he would accept any FA punishment, Klopp added: “I probably have to expect the punishment. I think the refs think I questioned their integrity… in that moment I just described my feelings.”
