Jurgen Klopp charged by FA for comments about referee Paul Tierney
By Sean Walsh
The FA have announced that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been charged for comments he made about referee Paul Tierney after Sunday's 4-3 win against Tottenham.
A thrilling game at Anfield went the way of the Reds, despite the hosts giving up a three-goal lead.
Diogo Jota scored the match-winning goal a minute after Richarlison thought he had snatched a point for Spurs, who had down well to fight back from 3-0 down.
Klopp was involved in altercations with referee Tierney after not spotting a supposed foul in the lead up to Spurs' third goal, as well as fourth official John Brookes, pulling his hamstring when sprinting to celebrate in front of him.
And the FA have confirmed in a statement that Klopp has been charged for comments made in his post-match press conference.
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"Liverpool FC's Jurgen Klopp has been charged following their Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday April 30," the statement read.
"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.
"Jurgen Klopp has until Friday 5 May to provide a response."
What did Jurgen Klopp say about Paul Tierney?
In his post-match press conference, Klopp said: "Very emotional, very emotional, of course. Especially given the situation with their third goal. How he [Tierney] can whistle a foul in that situation up front against Mohamed Salah.
"The linesman is directly there and keeps the flag down and then the ref whistles instead, so that's one thing and then the next situation [Richarlison's goal] wouldn't have happened if we keep the ball there. That's not cool.
"We have our story, our history, with Mr. Tierney and I really don't know what this man has with us. I really don't know.
"They will always say it's nothing and that's not true, it cannot be. I don't understand it. How he looks at me, I don't understand it. I really don't have a problem with anyone, him as well, but it's just like 'again?'
"He was the referee at Tottenham when Harry Kane didn't get a red card and I love Kane, I love this player, I don't want him to get a red card but it was a red card in that game. And after it no one asked Mr Tierney about it because they don't have to clarify these situations.
"It's difficult to understand. My celebration towards the fourth official, I didn't say anything, I didn't say anything bad but it was unnecessary and I got punished for that immediately.
"I pulled my hamstring, which is fair, but what he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not OK."
Speaking again about the incident on Tuesday, Klopp said: "The whole situation shouldn't have happened at all. It was out of emotion, anger and that is never a good leader for the things you do. I was still angry, which led to the way I celebrated.
"I didn't say anything wrong. I was shouting 'without you, without you'. It doesn't even make a lot of sense, but that was all.
"I couldn't really get close to the fourth official and I didn't want to get close to him, not at all. I then felt my muscle and Paul Tierney came over to me and I didn't expect [to receive] a red card. I know I had a red card not too long ago and I didn't expect for a second a red card because I didn't feel it was right.
"I expected a yellow card in that moment and he said to me 'For me, it's a red card but because of him [fourth official] it's yellow’. He showed me a yellow card and smiled at my face, that's it. I said: 'Red card for what?' We then go inside, I tried to calm down and it didn’t work out properly. I go into all the interviews and then I said what I said.
"I went in, tried to calm down and couldn't when I spoke to the press. Then I said that what he said was 'not OK'. I thought it wasn't OK because it wasn't a red but I opened the box with that. I should've just said he said it was a red card. Rest was how I felt at that moment.
"Maybe I should have said he told me it was a red card and I didn't think it was. The rest of the things I said about how I feel about Paul Tierney whistling his games, I'm sure he is not doing intentionally but there is history. These things that happened in the past, in decisive games, happened. That's a feeling, nothing else."