The FA

THE FA have revealed the details of the conversation between Jurgen Klopp and Paul Tierney that triggered the Liverpool boss’ suspension.Klopp was hit with a two-game touchline ban for his comments regarding the referee on April 30 – although one of those is suspended until the end of next season.
Jurgen Klopp was hit with a ban and a fine after his comments about Paul TierneyCredit: Reuters
The Reds chief also got hit with a fine worth £75,000 for what he said.
Klopp, 55, was charged the day after he accused Tierney of having an agenda against his team and giving biased decisions – despite failing to send off match-winner Diogo Jota in the dramatic 4-3 victory over Spurs.
And as part of the disciplinary commission which heard the case on Monday, the conversation on the touchline when Klopp celebrated in fourth official John Brooks’ face then argued with Tierney was publicised.
Brooks told Tierney: “Jurgen Klopp has just run and celebrated in my face. I think it’s a yellow card mate, minimum.”
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
The commission agreed: “Mr Brooks considered Mr Klopp’s conduct to be misplaced celebration rather than an aggressive or threatening move.”
Tierney then asked the VAR officials in Stockley Park for advice and was told a yellow card was sufficient.
When he went to issue the card, Tierney told Klopp: “Right. I have to show you yellow.
“It could be red, but I am going to show you yellow. He said yellow. We will give you the benefit of the doubt, don’t do anything more.”
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
In a written submission, Klopp said he was “sorry”, describing that as “the most important sentiment I must express”.
Klopp claimed on May 2: “Paul Tierney came over to me. I didn’texpect a red card, to be honest because I didn’t feel that was right.
“I expected a yellow card in that moment. And he said to me, ‘For me it’s a red card, but because of him.’
“That’s what I understood, so it was loud in the stadium, but, ‘Because of him, it’s yellow.’
“Shows me yellow card, smiles in my face, that’s it. I [said], ‘Red card? For what?'”
The FA confirmed the conduct on the touchline did not warrant the charge – although it provided background information – and it was his TV interview that prompted the punishment.
Klopp said to the media: “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.”
‘I AM SORRY’
FA lawyers described Klopp’s comments as “a particularly serious example of misconduct involving media comments about a match official” and that they were “particularly more damaging” than typical post-match gripes.
The commission found that these were “allegations of persistent bias against a blameless referee”, “highly damaging” and “unacceptable”.
Klopp admitted his comments were “improper” as “they imply bias, question the integrity of the referee, are personal, offensive, and bring the game into disrepute”.
The German added: “I am sorry for some of the tone and content of my post-match interview.
“Although it was not my intention I accept now it appears that I was questioning Mr Tierney’s integrity.
“I take ownership of this. On reflection, the words I used were inappropriate.
“To be absolutely clear, I know that Mr Tierney, along with all other officials, do their work without any pre-conceived bias or prejudice.”

It was expected Klopp would be hit with a two-game ban, ruling him out of the rest of the campaign.
Instead, while Klopp will be in the stands for Liverpool’s game against Aston Villa on Saturday, he will be able to return to a pitchside view for the final game of the campaign at Southampton on May 28. More

JURGEN KLOPP has been charged by the FA after his verbal attack on ref Paul Tierney.The Liverpool boss faces a heavy fine and touchline ban for accusing Tierney of having an agenda against the Reds on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp has been charged by the FA after his verbal attack on Paul TierneyCredit: EPA
An FA spokesperson said: “Liverpool FC’s Jurgen Klopp has been charged following their Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday 30 April.
“It is alleged that the manager’s comments regarding the match official during post-match media interviews constitutes improper conduct in that they imply bias, and/or question the integrity of the referee, and/or are personal/offensive, and/or bring the game into disrepute.
“Jurgen Klopp has until Friday 5 May to provide a response.”
Klopp’s blast against Tierney came after Liverpool’s dramatic 4-3 win over Tottenham on Sunday.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Klopp went before the Sky cameras to claim: “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.”
The German was earlier booked for celebrating Diogo Jota’s winner by steaming up to fourth official John Brooks.
And he was left fuming by a touchline interaction with Tierney, later telling reporters: “Paul Tierney came over to me, I didn’t expect for a second a red card, and he said: ‘For me it’s a red card but because of him (the fourth official) it’s a yellow’.”
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Klopp’s comments prompted a strongly-worded reaction from the PGMOL, who said: “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.”
Klopp has since admitted his temper got the better of him in the exchange and revealed he expected to land a reprimand as a consequence of his actions.
He added: “I know Paul Tierney is not doing this on purpose, absolutely not, but we have this history. It hasn’t happened intentionally but it’s still there.
“I really regret the headlines I created. I have no clue what happens now. We haven’t heard anything yet.
“I probably have to expect a punishment. The red card I got against City was in the same spot, foul against the same player, Mo Salah.”
Klopp was left fuming after a heated interaction with TierneyCredit: Reuters
Spurs boss Ryan Mason also blasted Tierney following the gamesCredit: Alamy
Should Klopp be punished, he is likely to be hit with a fine and touchline ban by the FA.
Jose Mourinho’s half-time attack on Jonathan Moss in Chelsea’s 2015 2-1 defeat at West Ham landed him with a one-match stadium ban and £40,000 fine.
And Klopp is likely to already be feeling worse for wear after injuring his hamstring while celebrating Liverpool’s controversial winner.
Klopp wasn’t the only manager left fuming with Tierney on Sunday, with Spurs caretaker Ryan Mason blasting the official for not sending off match-winner Jota for catching Oliver Skipp in the head with his boots.
Mason said: “It’s one of the clearest red cards I’ve seen, it’s difficult to take. It’s an impossible one to miss.
“When you talk about endangering an opponent, to draw blood from a stud when Skipp’s head is five-and-a-half feet in the air baffles me.
“That type of decision is maybe the difference between winning the game or not.
“It’s tough to understand and I would like an explanation.
“I saw the incident in real time and you have a feel for those sort of moments. The VAR official has the benefit of a replay.
“I would like an explanation and a reason why it wasn’t [a red card].
“I can understand referees and officials on the pitch missing it even though my feeling was an instant red card because when your foot is studs showing and you’re five-and-a-half feet off the ground and make contact with a player’s head and draw blood, and there is a gash, I think it ticks all the boxes.
“Probably more so an experienced referee in the VAR room, you want him to help the official on the pitch in that moment.

“Listen, it’s decided the game because that player on the pitch shouldn’t have been on there at the end.
“I’m pretty sure most football people’s opinions will probably feel the same.” More

TOTTENHAM and Brighton have been fined £100,000 each following the touchline brawl between the two benches in the recent Premier League game.The ill-tempered match, that saw interim Spurs boss Cristian Stellini and Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi clash before kick-off, flared up in the second half with a mass confrontation between staff from both dugouts.
Tottenham and Brighton have been fined £100,000 each by the FACredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Cristian Stellini and Robert De Zerbi clashed on the sidelinesCredit: Twitter / @SkySportsPL
That led to Stellini, who appeared an innocent bystander, and De Zerbi being sent to the stands and both clubs have now been fined by the Football Association.
An FA statement read: “Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion have been fined £100,000 each for a mass confrontation that occurred during their Premier League match on Saturday 8 April.
“Both clubs admitted they failed to ensure their benches conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and did not behave in a way which is proper during the 58th minute.
“An independent regulatory commission imposed their fines following a subsequent hearing.”
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
The £100,000 punishments are the biggest fines dished out to Premier League clubs this season.
The previous highest is understood to be the £75,000 for Manchester City for failing to ensure their players behaved in an orderly fashion at Arsenal in February.
Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Brighton was shrouded in controversy as Brighton had two goals disallowed and two strong penalty appeals waved away.
Fans were left in disbelief that Karou Mitoma’s effort was ruled out, claiming the ball had in fact hit him on the shoulder.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
The Seagulls also felt they should have been given a penalty when Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg appeared to trip Mitoma in the box.
And the red cards for the gaffers were brandished following a melee between the two dugouts after Alexis Mac Allister’s strike was disallowed.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb had to apologise for the errors after the game.
A seething Lewis Dunk did not hold back at VAR in his post-match interview.
The Brighton centre-back dropped an F-bomb at the start of the chat, before quickly apologising.
But his rant continued.
He fumed: “There’s no point having VAR in the game if you’re not going to make big decisions like that.”
Webb also apoogised to the Seagulls when they had a perfectly legitimate goal chalked off for offside in the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.
They were also unhappy this weekend when Christian Pulisic escaped punishment for an apparent handball in the Chelsea penalty area – although De Zerbi’s side did come back to in 2-1. More

ALEXSANDAR MITROVIC has been banned for EIGHT matches following his furious Old Trafford meltdown.The Fulham striker shoved and reacted angrily at referee Chris Kavanagh when he awarded a penalty and sent off team-mate Willian in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has got an eight-game ban following his sending off at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
Kavanagh showed the red card – prompting an automatic three-game ban.
But now the FA have slapped him with an extra five matches and a £75,000 fine.
Manager Marco Silva, also red carded in the flashpoint, got a two-game touchline ban and £40,000 fine for his behaviour and comments.
Mitrovic served the first of those eight in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
He will now miss Fulham’s next seven matches before returning for May’s trip to Southampton.
The Serb is also available for the London derby at home to Crystal Palace and the away day back to the scene of the crime, Old Trafford, for the final game of the season.
The FA said: “We claimed the standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksandar Mitrovic for the sending-off offence of violent conduct that he committed towards the match referee around the 72nd minute was clearly insufficient.
“The forward denied this, but it was upheld by the Regulatory Commission, and a three-match ban was imposed.
Most read in Football
“This is in addition to the three-match ban he had already received for the red card offence. 
“The forward separately admitted that his behaviour and language after being sent off was improper, abusive, insulting and threatening, and the Regulatory Commission imposed an additional two-match ban and £75,000 fine. 
“In total, the Regulatory Commission has suspended Aleksandar Mitrović for eight matches. One of these has already been served, and therefore the forward will be unavailable for Fulham FC’s next seven matches.”
The eight-match ban is similar to the punishments dished out to David Prutton and Paolo Di Canio.
Prutton got ten games in 2005 for pushing Alan Wiley after his red card while Di Canio missed 11 matches for shoving ref Paul Alcock to the ground.
The longest bans in Premier League history were the nine-month suspensions for Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick and Mark Bosnich for taking cocaine.
Biggest Premier League bans
Mark Bosnich – 9 months
Australian goalkeeper Bosnich was sacked by Chelsea after being found guilty of taking cocaine
Eric Cantona – 9 months
Cantona jumped into the crowd to kung-fu kick a Crystal Palace fan and also got 120 hours of community service
Rio Ferdinand – 8 months
Ferdinand got a big ban in 2003 after missing a drugs test and claimed he was out shopping
Adrian Mutu – 7 months
Mutu’s Chelsea spell was cut short after testing positive for cocaine
Kolo Toure – 6 months
Tour got the ban after being found with performance-enhancing substances – but it was overturned as the FA believed it was taken unknowingly
Paolo Di Canio – 11 games
Di Canio sent referee Paul Alcock tumbling to the turf amid a row between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal
David Prutton – 10 games
Prutton also pushed a ref, Alan Wiley, during a game with Arsenal – and got a £6,000 fine too
Aleksandar Mitrovic – 8 games
Mitrovic shoved ref Chris Kavanagh in a furious reaction to red cards for Willian and Marco Silva after awarding a penalty

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY…The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

IVAN Toney has slammed the FA for “leaking” news of his gambling charge admissions.Toney faces a lengthy ban, likely to extend into next season, after admitting a number of the 362 separate charges against him.
Ivan Toney is unhappy details have got out ahead of a hearing after he admitted breaches of betting rulesCredit: Getty
Betting on any games is a breach of FCA regulations and Toney is charged with placing the wages between 2017 and 2021.
But the Brentford striker went on the attack as he posted a statement condemning Wembley beaks over the news of his guilty pleas.
Toney said: “I was shocked and disappointed to see press speculation yesterday and today about the FA investigation process concerning me after I had been told by the FA it was a confidential process until any decision has been made.
“It is especially disturbing for me to read that the FA has said I shall be banned for six months before there has even been a hearing.
READ MORE TOP FOOTBALL
“And it does make me worried about the process.”
The frontman added: “My lawyers will be writing to the FA to request that they conduct a leak enquiry as this is the second time stories have appeared in the newspapers.
“The last time was just before the selection of the England World Cup squad.
“As I continue to be told the investigation is meant to be confidential I am unable to provide any further comment and shall continue to concentrate on my football.”
Most read in Football
SunSport understands an independent commission hearing is likely to take place in the coming weeks with a ban virtually certain now the striker has admitted to the offences.
But his statement will put pressure on the FA head of that hearing and is likely to see his lawyers arguing a for a more lenient punishment. More

IVAN TONEY has admitted a number of FA betting charges – and is set to start a lengthy ban before the end of the season.Brentford striker Toney was charged with 262 breaches of FA rules outlawing betting on games across two batches of allegations in November and December.
Ivan Toney is set to serve a lengthy banCredit: Getty
The allegations were revealed by The Sun before the World Cup and while the FA did not put a block on him being selected by Gareth Southgate for Qatar they were something the England boss was fully aware of when he omitted the uncapped striker.
Now it is understood that Toney has admitted a significant number of the charges although he is denying others.
It is expected the formal FA disciplinary commission into the case will be held within weeks, allowing Toney to begin to serve any ban before the end of this campaign and which would include the fallow months across June and July.
The striker has scored 26 Prem goals across two seasons for Thomas Franks’ Bees.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
There is no suggestion that Toney placed wagers on any matches – which took place between 2017 and 2021 – in which he was involved.
Toney, 26, was on loan from Newcastle at Wigan and Scunthorpe during the early part of that period before his moves to Peterborough and Brentford, whom he joined in 2020
England star Kieran Trippier was penalised for breaking FA betting rules after telling a friend to “lump on” ahead of his transfer from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid in 2019.
Trippier did not directly place a bet but following an investigation he was banned from football activity for ten weeks and fined £70,000.
Most read in Football
In 2016 Joey Barton was found to be in breach of the betting rules after placing 1,260 bets over a period of ten years.
The following April he was banned for 18 months, effectively ending his career as he retired instead of deciding to appeal his punishment.
Former England striker Daniel Sturridge was banned for four months in January 2018 after being found guilty of passing on information relating to his transfer.
He was also hit with a £150,000 fine and Turkish club Trabzonspor terminated his contract.
Toney has been in red-hot form this season and is the joint-third top scorer in the Premier League.
His tally of 14 strikes is level with that of Marcus Rashford, and only behind those of Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.
Toney is uncapped at international level, but was an unused substitute for England’s 3-3 draw with Germany last September – prior to missing out on the World Cup.
His impending ban is set to rule him out of the Three Lions’ clashes with Ukraine and Italy next month.
Toney, 26, was part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad last SeptemberCredit: Getty More