Coach Klopp banned from directing for 2 matches
According to the disciplinary notice on May 18 of the English Football Association (FA), Klopp is currently banned from directing one match. The remaining game is suspended until the end of the 2023-2024 season, provided that the German coach does not repeat the offense.
Therefore, Klopp will not direct when Liverpool play Aston Villa in the 36th round of the Premier League on May 20. He will return in the closing game of the season at Southampton on May 28. Liverpool are currently fifth with 55 points, one point behind Man Utd and four points behind Newcastle.
Klopp was fined for comments directed at referee Tierney after the 4-3 win over Tottenham at Anfield on April 30. At the post-match press conference, the 55-year-old coach said that Tierney forced Liverpool.
Following Klopp's statement, the British Professional Referee Management Authority (PGMOL) announced that Tierney "worked in a professional manner throughout the match" through the communication system and full review of the recordings. Therefore, PGMOL objected to the Liverpool coach's statement that the British referee had "inappropriate statements".
An independent governing committee found Klopp's statements constituted inappropriate behavior by implying bias, doubting the integrity of the referee, being personal, offensive and making the game turn "scandal".
However, the Liverpool manager avoided a heavy penalty when he expressed his regret at the next press conference on May 2 and in a letter sent a day later in response to the FA's allegations.
In front of the media, Klopp admitted not to overdo it, and that this action came from being caught up in the emotions and anger of the game. In the letter, he also apologized for the excessive celebration in front of fourth referee John Brooks and admitted to making inappropriate comments about Tierney.
In October 2022, Klopp was fined nearly $40,000 and banned from directing one match for his inappropriate attitude towards assistant referee Gary Beswick during the 1-0 win over Man City in the Premier League. In February 2019, the German coach was fined $ 50,000 for accusing the referee of bias, when he said that Kevin Friend always blew in favor of West Ham in dueling situations in a 1-1 draw in London.
