The Premier League is called one of the most physical leagues in the world. Liverpool’s last game against Tottenham Hotspur is a prime example of how dirty things can get. The match was not a simple football match. It saw several fouls and bookings. A controversial decision from the referee also caused drama among the fans, following which Liverpool might face punishment from the FA.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp opened up about the game and all the incidents and controversial decisions that happened during the game, and the German has defended his team in a recent interview.
Why does the FA reportedly want to fine Liverpool?
Liverpool FC was set to face Tottenham Hotspur on September 30 in the Premier League, Round 7. Things instantly got bad for the Reds when one of their key players, Curtis Jones, was sent off the field. The midfielder committed a foul on Spurs’ player, Yves Bissouma, in the 24th minute. He was first given a yellow card, but the decision was soon changed, and the English player was shown a red.
Things got worse when Diogo Jota was shown a second yellow in the 69th minute, forcing him to the sidelines and putting Liverpool in a 9 vs. 11. Players Vrgil Van Dijk, Mohammad Salah, Andrew Robertson, and Alexis Macallister were also booked. According to the FA, a fine is imposed on any club that collects more than five bookings in a game. A £25,000 fine could be imposed on Liverpool as six players from the club were booked.
Club manager Jurgen Klopp has defended his team, saying he does not want the fans to start thinking of Liverpool as a “kicking team”.
Liverpool vs. Tottenham match controversy explained
Spurs came out victorious with a score of 2-1, but things could have and should have been different. Luis Diaz had a goal wrongfully taken away from him in the 36th minute of the game. Mohammad Salah managed to slide the ball towards Diaz, who easily slammed it into the bottom left corner of Tottenham’s net. The Colombian ran off to celebrate but soon came to a stop after he saw the offside flag go up.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the governing body for referees in England, acknowledged that the referees present on the field made an error and the goal should have been awarded. The apology is of no use now as the match has already ended and Tottenham Hotspurs now acquire second place in the Premier League table, pushing Liverpool to number 4.
Jurgen Klopp is clearly disappointed about the game, calling it the most unfair game he has ever seen. We are yet to see if the Reds are given any consolation or if they are supposed to move on.
