Jurgen Klopp accuses referee Paul Tierney of having “something” against Liverpool

Referees body in England, PGMOL, said it “strongly refutes” insinuation by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp that center-referee Paul Tierney’s deeds were “improper” during Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham.

The Post-match comment of Jurgen Klopp is being looked into

The FA are also investigating the German tactician’s post-game comments after he stated Tierney looks to have something “against” his side.

Jurgen Klopp was brandished a yellow card for supposedly excessively celebrating Liverpool’s 94th minute winning goal from Diogo Jota in front of the fourth official and later asserted what Tierney said to him was “not ok.”

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited, said Tierney “acted in a professional manner” throughout the entire duration of the game.

Here is how it happened!

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Diogo Jota netted the winner for Liverpool  just a minute and 39 seconds after Richarlison made it 3-3 with Liverpool having led 3-0 in the first 15 minutes of the game.

Liverpool manager Klopp was angry with Tottenham Hotspur being awarded a free-kick which resulted in their equalizer and ran to scream at the fourth official after the winner, but hurt his leg in front of the Tottenham bench.

He was cautioned by the center-referee following his celebration.

Klopp speaking with Sky Sports said: “We have our history with Tierney, I really don’t know what he has against us, He has said there are no problems but that cannot be true.

“How he looks at me, I don’t understand it. In England nobody has to clarify these situations, it’s really tricky and hard to understand.

“What he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not OK.”

PGMOL, the body in charge of English Premier League referees, stated: “PGMOL is aware of the comments made by Jurgen Klopp after his side’s fixture with Tottenham Hotspur.

“Match officials in the Premier League are recorded in all games via a communications system.

“Having fully reviewed the audio of referee Paul Tierney from today’s fixture, we can confirm he acted in a professional manner throughout, including when issuing the caution to the Liverpool manager.

“So, therefore, we strongly refute any suggestion that Tierney’s actions were improper.”

Concerning his injury, Jurgen Klopp told BBC Sport: “I’m not sure if it’s the hamstring, it could be the adductor but I got punished.

“I turned around for the celebration because the fourth official got nothing wrong the whole time.

“I didn’t say anything bad, I gave a look which is bad enough. The hamstring or whatever the muscle is gave up in that moment. That’s fair.”

The 55-year-old dispute with Paul Tierney dates back many years ago.

In the year 2020 Tierney supposedly told Jurgen Klopp to “get over it” after the English referee acknowledged he had missed a foul on Georginio Wijnaldum in a match against Aston Villa.

In 2021, Jurgen Klopp advanced towards Tierney and said “I have no problem with any referees, only you”, after Tottenham’s Harry Kane escaped a red card before Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson was sent off in a 2-2 share of the spoils.

During the first month of 2023 after a loss to Brentford, Jurgen Klopp stated he had met the match officials including Paul Tierney to discuss decisions made during the encounter.

Klopp told BeIN Sport: “That’s exactly the same as I would talk to my microwave, you get no response, really, it’s always the same.”

In April, Paul Tierney brandished a yellow card to Liverpool’s left-back Andy Robertson after an incident involving assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis.

Jurgen Klopp was handed a one-match suspension after he was sent-off against Manchester City last October for talking down on the referee’s assistant after the Football Association appealed the earlier punishment.

The former Borussia Dortmund manager was also fined £30,000 and cautioned about his behavior in the future.

Jurgen Klopp appears to be in more hot water

Meanwhile, following what transpired at Anfield on Sunday, Jurgen Klopp is set to be charged by the FA over his interview where he went at center-referee Paul Tierney.

He also faces a multi-game suspension for accusing the Englishman of having something “against” his side as referee chiefs say the Liverpool manager lied.