Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp given a one-match touchline ban following his red card against Man City last month; German initially handed a £30,000 fine after but FA have successfully appealed against decision; Klopp to be absent from touchline for Saturday's home against Southampton
Saturday 12 November 2022 07:12, UK
Jurgen Klopp has been handed a one-match touchline ban after the Football Association successfully appealed against the decision to only fine the Liverpool manager for confronting a match official.
Klopp was initially fined £30,000 by an independent regulatory commission over his conduct towards referee Anthony Taylor during the game against Manchester City on October 16.
The FA felt that was too lenient and an independent appeal board has now suspended the German from the touchline with immediate effect.
Liverpool face Southampton at Anfield on Saturday but Klopp will now be absent from the touchline for the game.
A statement from the FA read: "An independent Appeal Board has allowed the FA's appeal against an Independent Regulatory Commission's sanction in relation to the recent case involving Jurgen Klopp.
"As a result, the Liverpool FC manager has been suspended from the touchline for one match with immediate effect, fined £30,000 and warned as to his future conduct.
"Jurgen Klopp has previously admitted that he breached FA Rule E3 during their Premier League match against Manchester City FC on Sunday, October 16 and received a sanction £30,000."
The FA launched a new 'Enough Is Enough' campaign in September aimed at stamping out abuse of all kinds at all levels of the game.
It is understood the FA feels elite-level managers have an example to set to the grassroots game in terms of what is acceptable behaviour.
Asked the day after the fine whether he felt it was a fair punishment, Klopp said: "Should I have got a ban? I don't know.
"I never was in the situation, I never had a red card, I didn't ever have a yellow card as far as I know.
"I'm the wrong person that you should ask. I have no idea about what the usual things are. I had a touchline ban years ago in the Champions League with (Borussia) Dortmund, very similar situation, but obviously the Champions League is slightly different."
Klopp and City boss Pep Guardiola's angry antics in the match at Anfield last month drew criticism from Ref Support UK, a leading charity which offers support to referees in grassroots football where abuse is common.
"When you see world recognised figures like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola behaving like that, it is then replicated by people in youth football and perpetuates the idea that it is OK to do it," Ref Support UK CEO Martin Cassidy said.
Meanwhile former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believed Klopp's reaction in the win was "out of order".
Speaking to Sky Sports News last month, he said: "You see his reaction, he's very angry over it and reacts out of order.
"The fourth official calls the referee over and he gets a red card for his behaviour on the touchline.
"That's a direct result of that foul not being given, he's berating the official because he feels the foul should have been given."
