A remorseful Jurgen Klopp has revealed that the fourth official he confronted after Liverpool‘s late winner on Sunday saved him from a red card after being charged by the FA with improper conduct for his post-match comments about referee Paul Tierney.
Klopp was unhappy with Tierney’s performance during Liverpool’s dramatic 4-3 victory against Spurs at Anfield, saying that his side has a “history” with his side.
Speaking on Tuesday, Klopp said he would consider apologising to John Brooks for his behaviour in the final seconds of the seven-goal thriller with Tottenham and will accept any punishment that is likely to come from the Football Association.
Klopp has clarified the series of events that has angered the referees organisation PGMOL and earned him all-round condemnation in the game.
But it could have been even worse for the emotional German if referee Paul Tierney had shown him a red card and not taken the advice of Brooks who suggested the yellow instead.
“Paul Tierney came over said ‘for me, it is a red card but because of him [pointing at Brooks] it is a yellow’ and he shows me a yellow and smiles in my face, that is it. I did not expect at all a red card to be honest, I did not feel that was right, I expected the yellow card.
“I did not say anything wrong [to Brooks], I was shouting: ‘Without you, without you’, which does not even make any sense.
“It was not cool but I just celebrated in his direction. I just didn’t think it was that bad but we all know things that don’t look that bad in your own mind is sometimes different to what the outside world sees. If it looked bad, I will consider getting in touch, definitely.”
Klopp also retracted his post-match accusation that Tierney has an agenda against Liverpool after a number of controversial incidents in games officiated by the Manchester official in the last two seasons.
PGMOL has robustly refuted those claims and a repentant Klopp was in full climb-down mode yesterday ahead of tonight’s (Wed) home game with Fulham.
“I know he [Tierney] is not doing it intentionally but we have a history, you cannot deny that,” he added. “I’m not a resentful person, not at all, but these kind things that have happened in the past in decisive games. They didn’t happen intentionally but they are still there.
“The referees are really angry about what I said. I shouldn’t have said a couple of things but lying was not involved.”
He blamed his red mist on the emotion of a match in which Liverpool blew a 3-0 lead before Jota’s added time winner, just 90 seconds after Tottenham’s third equaliser.
“The whole situation should not have happened at all,” he said. “It was out of emotion and anger in that moment. That’s why I celebrated the way I did. We won a game 4-3 in a spectacular manner and the only headlines were the ones I created – and I really regret that. It’s not necessary and not how it should be.”
Klopp could be facing a two-game touchline ban after serving a one-game suspension and being warned about his future conduct following a red card for berating the referee’s assistant during the Manchester City game in October.
“With all the things, I maybe expect a punishment,” he said. “Refs think I question their integrity, which if I am sitting here now calm, I don’t do. We have to wait to see what they [the FA] come back with.”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/23cDCGK
Post a Comment