Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp handed two-game ban for insulting referee Paul Tierney

The Football Association has handed Jurgen Klopp a two-match touchline ban for his improper conduct during Liverpool’s last-gasp 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in April.

According to the Guardian, the Reds boss will have to pay a hefty price for inappropriate comments he made towards referee Paul Tierney at Anfield last month. 

Effective immediately, Klopp’s suspension will sideline him for his side’s final home match of the season when Aston Villa visit Merseyside on Saturday

The second game of the ban is suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season on condition he does not repeat the breach.

The sentence also includes a £75,000 fine for questioning the referee’s integrity, especially considering it wasn’t the first time he launched a tirade against the match officials in the Premier League.

Klopp, who appeared before regulatory commissions on three occasions in the last five years and was both banned and cautioned for his behaviour as recently as November, has been warned that any future violations will result in additional disciplinary measures being taken.

In addition to his fine, the German manager must bear the expenses of the independent regulatory commission responsible for overseeing the case.

What happened?

Tensions were at the ultimate high after Richarlison scored an injury-time equaliser for Tottenham, but Liverpool managed to claim all three points moments later. 

Klopp celebrated Diogo Jota’s stoppage-time winner by running up to the fourth official, John Brooks.

As a result of his actions, the 55-year-old received a yellow card, but it did not lead to any formal charges.

His notorious history of disciplinary issues was considered when determining the sanction, leading to a more severe punishment this time. 

The long-serving Liverpool manager openly criticised Tierney in the post-match interview with Sky Sports, suggesting bias against the club and himself. 

Although Klopp subsequently apologised to the referee, he couldn’t avoid the sanction and will miss out on Villa’s upcoming visit to Anfield. 

Liverpool can still make a late top-four push after whittling down the gap on fourth-placed Manchester United to one point, though the Red Devils have a game in hand.