Simon Jordan has criticized the FA’s decision not to ban Jurgen Klopp from the touchline after he angrily confronted officials during Liverpool’s loss to Manchester City earlier this month.
The German manager was furious after Bernardo Silva fouled Mo Salah, but neither the linesman nor referee Anthony Taylor awarded a free kick. red card and ordered off the bench.
Instead, the former Borussia Dortmund manager was fined £30,000 by the FA for his actions, greatly baffling former Crystal Palace owner Jordan.
“Nobody gets a pass for making mistakes and there needs to be accountability. Umpires and umpires shouldn’t be sailing off into the sunset after making mistakes,” Jordan told talkSPORT (quoted by The Mirror).
“But a narrative, this rhetoric is being constructed by managers that they can say whatever they want, whenever they want, they get a slap on the wrist, they get sent to the stands for five minutes while they continue to pick the team, while still probably communicating with their number two and their assistant directors.
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“Then they get a paltry fine, which is probably 10 or 5 percent of their weekly take-home pay. It is not the answer.
Former Arsenal defender Ray Parlor has also questioned the FA’s punishment, claiming Klopp “crossed the line” during the clash with Pep Guardiola’s side.
We understand that the German’s actions were not acceptable, but he knows it himself: after the match, the former Mainz boss admitted that he was wrong to act that way and that he probably expected a touchline ban.
The FA have decided to fine him and he will therefore be on the bench for our clash with Leeds United at Anfield on Saturday night.
Without making excuses, football is a game that means a lot to many of us and sometimes emotions can get the best of you, as was clearly the case on this occasion.
With the huge media attention surrounding the incident, one would think that Klopp was the only manager to stand up to officials – of course he isn’t – but it’s interesting to see that his (lack of) punishment has sparked so much outrage.
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