Jurgen Klopp received a yellow card for celebrating Liverpool's victory in the 94th minute in front of a fourth official. Photo: Shutterstock/Peter Powell
A leading group of referees have called for the urgent introduction of the points deduction in professional football as a deterrent for managers like Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp who angrily confront match officials.
Klopp was suspended for one match and fined £30,000 earlier this season after being sent into the stands for viciously berating fourth official Gary Beswick but still ran to confront official fourth John Brooks after Liverpool's victory over Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, injuring a hamstring in the process.
He then stated after the game that referee Paul Tierney had something «against» Liverpool and suggested that the referee said something to him that was “out of order.”
“Tierney and I have our own history, I really don’t know what he has against us,” Klopp said.
The FA is investigating his post-match comments and is also awaiting an official report from Tierney after the referee only gave Klopp a yellow card for his aggressive behavior towards Brooks.
The moment referee Paul Tierney said something to upset Jurgen Klopp… 🤔 pic.twitter.com/qjsmVS6CHT
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 30, 2023
The PGMOL Referee Panel has «strongly denied» allegations of «improper» behavior by Tierney and Ref Support UK, a charity representing referees at all levels, and now want potential sanctions for confronting or insulting match officials at any level of play to be lifted . including points deductions.
«I'm a Liverpool fan, born and raised in Anfield, and I'm embarrassed by that,» said Martin Cassidy, Chief Executive of Ref Support UK. “Do you think Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley did not have the same passion? They never behaved like that, so why is he allowed to?"
“The last time Klopp was charged he was fined £30,000 by the commission and was also suspended for one match at the touchline. What is happening now? Give him another ban? Higher monetary penalty?"
“He did it instinctively. It is clear that fines and bans for one match do not stop. The only thing I can see to solve this problem quickly is to say 'We are going to introduce a points deduction for common offenders'.
“I don't see a stronger deterrent. Imagine if Liverpool didn't qualify for the Champions League because their manager's behavior caused them to get points deducted?"
"Think of the message that would be shown all over the world. I know that deducting points will seriously improve the situation. Instead, you shoot the pea shooter with these meaningless penalties.
Asked if he would like Liverpool to receive a points deduction in connection with Sunday's game, Cassidy said: «I would like to see the points deduction or at least look at it, but they [the FA] refuse to do it.» ;
"I'm a Liverpool fan, but we as an organization need to step back and I need to reflect the members' perspective on this.»
Cassidy is adamant that the example set by managers like Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, in their interactions with officials, has a direct impact on how referees — who are often children — meet off-camera in mass games.
«We hear it on every level: 'Klopp got away with it,'» Cassidy said. “We hear it all the time. We see it [imitation] in goal celebrations, we see it in positive behavior. Only a fool would say that their negative behavior is not copied.”
“The FA can deduct points, for example, for betting or financial infractions, but not for misbehavior. I don't understand. Not all managers, but definitely most, think they can just do what they want.”
Cassidy also wants the League Managers Association to interact directly with its members and put in place a Code of Conduct. “People need to step up — they have been silent for too long,” he said.
"The behavior of some sideline managers has been shameful for decades, but the LMA doesn't seem to say or do anything about the problem. They never publicly denounce this kind of behavior.»
Richard Bevan, chief executive of the LMA, responded to a letter from Cassidy earlier this season in which he said the organization is committed to «working on football culture as a grassroots, and on a professional level, which implies vision, hospitality and support for anyone who wants to play, watch, coach or referee.»
He also said that «extremely important issues regarding behavior were regularly discussed and analyzed by all participants in the game, including behavior on the technical site, mass clashes and entourage of officials.
Свежие комментарии