The technician of Liverpool, the German Jurgen Klopp, was suspended for two games for having questioned the integrity of referee Paul Tierney, who whistled the team’s victory over Tottenham, by 4 to 3, in late April. The Football Association of England (FA) announced the decision on Thursday.
The FA, which also imposed a fine of £75,000 on Klopp (approximately R$ 462,000 at current prices), explained that the coach will serve the first game of suspension on Saturday, against Aston Villa, while the second will depend on their behavior in the future.
Klopp criticized Tierney after Liverpool beat Tottenham at Anfield with an injury-time goal from Portugal’s Diogo Jota.
After Jota scored, the German ran along the touchline until he stopped in front of the fourth official, John Brooks.
Tierney did not like Klopp’s behavior and applied a yellow card, which provoked the wrath of the coach, who spared no criticism at the press conference after the game.
“We have a history with Tierney. Frankly, I don’t know what he has against us,” Klopp said.
“He said he didn’t have a problem, but that’s not true. I don’t understand the way he looks at me. My celebration was not necessary, but what he said to me when he showed me the yellow card is not correct,” he added.
In an FA statement, the coach acknowledged that his comments about Tierney were “inappropriate” as they “question the integrity of the referee, are personal, offensive and bring the game into disrepute”.
PGMOL, the body responsible for professional refereeing in England, showed support for Paul Tierney, saying that he “performed in a professional manner throughout the match”.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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