Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been handed a touchline ban and £75,000 fine for comments he about referee Paul Tierney following his side’s win over Tottenham last month
VAR audio has shed some light on an incident between Jurgen Klopp and referee Paul Tierney during Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Tottenham in April
Jurgen Klopp accused referee Paul Tierney of saying something inappropriate to him during Liverpool’s win over Tottenham last month, though VAR audio from the match appears to have proven otherwise.
The Reds manager was handed a two-game touchline ban as well as a £75k fine on Thursday for suggesting that Tierney had an anti-Liverpool bias in his interview after the match, which ended 4-3 to the Merseysiders.
Following Diogo Jota’s 94th-minute winner, Klopp celebrated aggressively in front of fourth official John Brooks – (hilariously) pulling his hamstring in the process – prompting Tierney to go over and book him.
Klopp claimed afterwards that, as he was being booked, the official had said something to him that was “not OK”, but recently-released VAR audio suggests the German’s accusation has little merit.
Following Klopp’s celebration, Brooks said to Tierney: “Jurgen Klopp has just run and celebrated in my face. I think it’s a yellow card, mate. Minimum.”
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Tierney responded saying he had missed the incident and asked for advice from VAR on whether to produce a yellow or red card. Following a review of the footage, VAR told the referee: “Confirming yellow card. Confirming Jurgen Klopp yellow card.”
Tierney then went over to Klopp and booked him, telling the ex-Dortmund coach: “Right I have to show you yellow … it could be red, but I am going to show you yellow … we will give you the benefit of the doubt, don’t do anything more.”
Precisely which part of Tierney’s comments Klopp thought was ‘not OK’ isn’t clear, though some fans on social media think it might have been the red card warning. Others, however, said the audio proved that Klopp had nothing to complain about, with one or two users even calling him a “liar”.
“This shows Klopp is a liar. Absolutely nothing wrong with what Tierney told him. He was just looking for something to complain about because he knew he’d acted like a total d***,” one fan tweeted.
Another said: “Klopp behaves like a passive aggressive thug, and he’s tried to twist this situation to make himself into the victim. Pathetic.”
