The Football Association has released a transcript of a conversation of referee Paul Tierney’s comments to Jurgen Klopp, with the Liverpool boss receiving a touchline ban after accusing the official of bias.
Klopp will serve a one-match ban for his post-match comments on Tierney following Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Tottenham last month.
The second game of the ban is suspended until the end of the 2023/24 season on condition that he does not commit any more offenses in the meantime.
Klopp was also fined £75,000.
“Jurgen Klopp has admitted that his comments regarding the match referee in post-match media interviews constitute inappropriate conduct as they involve bias, question the integrity of the referee, are personal, offensive and bring the game into disrepute,” read a statement from the FA.
Jurgen Klopp has been banned from the touchline for his comments about referee Paul Tierney
Klopp claimed what Tierney told him before his yellow card was ‘not correct’
Klopp launched a stunning attack on Tierney after his side’s win over Tottenham on April 30.
Diogo Jota’s stoppage-time strike secured all three points for the Reds, with Klopp sprinting past fourth official John Brooks and cheering him to the face before limping back to his technical area after shooting himself a tibial hamstring.
Tierney then booked the Liverpool boss, who had been furious at the decision to award Tottenham a free-kick which led to Richarlison’s equalizer.
Klopp said on Sky Sports after the game: “What he (Tierney) said to me then when he gave me the yellow card… ‘It can’t be. But that’s not OK either.
The FA have released a transcript of the discussion between Tierney and Klopp.
The submission read “Mr Brooks contacted Mr Tierney and said ‘Jurgen Klopp just ran and celebrated in front of me. I think it’s a yellow card, minimum.
“It is clear that Mr. Brooks viewed Mr. Klopp’s conduct as an inappropriate celebration rather than an aggressive or threatening gesture.
“Mr Tierney responded by saying he had not seen what happened and needed advice on whether the penalty should be a yellow or a red card.”
Klopp had been warned after his celebration in front of fourth official John Brooks
‘The Video Assistant Referee reviewed the video footage and advised ‘Yellow card confirmed. Jurgen Klopp yellow card confirmed.’
‘Armed with that confirmation, Mr Tierney went to Mr Klopp and showed him a yellow card saying: ‘Okay… I have to show you the yellow… it could be red, but I will show you yellow. He said yellow. We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, don’t do anything more…”
“Mr Klopp’s frustrated reaction is clearly visible in the video footage.”
The FA said Klopp’s conduct and celebration did not lead to any charges, with the charge instead being based on the Liverpool manager’s post-match comments.
The comments included the suggestion that Tierney had a “personal antipathy towards Liverpool”.
“We had our story, story with Mr Tierney,” Klopp said after the game.
“I really don’t know what this man has with us. He will always say that there is nothing but it is not true. It’s not possible, I don’t understand. It can not be. I really don’t know if it’s me, how he looks at me. I don’t understand it.
“I really have no problem with anyone, not with him either. But I’ll say it again. He was playing at Tottenham when Harry Kane didn’t get a red card. And Harry Kane, I love this player, what a player, crazy, I don’t want him to get a red card – but it was a red card in this game.
The FA released a transcript of the discussion between Klopp and Tierney during the game
“And it was Mr. Tierney and no one asked him because they don’t have to clarify the situations. So it’s really tricky and it’s hard to understand and my celebration to the fourth official, I didn’t swear.
“It was unnecessary and I was punished for it immediately. I pulled my hamstring or adductor or whatever it was so good. That’s fair.’
Klopp’s comments led refereeing governing body PGMOL to issue a statement accusing the Liverpool boss of lying.
Both Liverpool and Klopp have sent letters in response to the FA’s accusation, with the German admitting his yellow card was justified and apologizing for ‘some of the tone and content’ of his comments. post game.
“Although it was not my intention, I now accept that it appears that I was questioning the integrity of Mr. Tierney. I own this,’ Klopp wrote. “On reflection, the words I used were inappropriate. Both of these incidents were emotionally motivated.
“I was overly emotional about some of the decisions made which then led to frustration and a sense of unfairness. I carried that emotion into mandated, time-sensitive post-game press engagements.
Klopp admitted in a letter that he did not believe Tierney was biased against Liverpool
Klopp added: “For the avoidance of doubt, I was trying to express how I felt while dealing with the frustration I felt about a number of decisions made during the game.” It was about feelings and emotions.
“To be absolutely clear, I know that Mr. Tierney, as well as all other public servants, do their jobs without any preconceived biases or prejudices. While that’s no excuse, I believe we’ve made up a high percentage of Mr. Tierney’s games this season? Something in the region of 20% of the matches he officiated involved my team.
“I’m not offering this as a defense, but rather as an observation and could be a reason for both the buildup of frustration governed by an unintended accumulation of incidents over an extended period of time.”
The Regulatory Commission had noted Klopp’s letter and apology at its next press conference, but highlighted his poor disciplinary record having been charged three times in the past five years.
Klopp had been banned for one game earlier in the season for his conduct in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield. He was also fined £30,000 and warned of his future conduct.
The Commission ruled the latest charge warranted a sanction to reflect the “seriousness of the breach” and serve as a “warning to others in Klopp’s position”.
