Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp suspended for 2 matches and fined for comments on umpire

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been handed a two-match ban and a 75,000 pound fine by the Football Association (FA) for his comments about referee Paul Tierney following his side's 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in April.

Klopp will miss the upcoming match against Aston Villa at Anfield as a result of the ban.

In his post-match interview, Klopp suggested that Tierney had a bias against Liverpool, adding that the referee had "something against" his team. The comments prompted an investigation by the FA, who deemed them to be a "particularly serious example of misconduct."

The FA expressed concern over the aggressive nature of Klopp's behaviour towards fourth official John Brooks.

In response to the charges, Liverpool sent a letter to the FA three days after the match, acknowledging that emotions were high during the tense fixture. While Klopp did not intend to question Tierney's integrity, the club highlighted a series of



"questionable decisions" involving the referee.

Klopp admitted improper conduct and expressed regret for his comments in a letter of apology. However, the FA decided to impose the ban and fine, citing Klopp's poor disciplinary record, which included a previous one-match ban for berating an assistant referee during a match against Manchester City in October.

The FA also released the transcript of the conversation between Tierney and Klopp when the Liverpool manager was booked. Klopp considered Tierney's words to be "unacceptable." The transcript revealed that Tierney warned Klopp that his actions could have resulted in a red card but ultimately decided to show him a yellow card based on the VAR's recommendation.

Klopp will miss the Aston Villa match due to the ban, but the second game affected by the ban has been suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season, ensuring that he will be available for Liverpool's final match of this campaign against Southampton.