Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp’s comments about referee Kevin Friend’s performance in his side’s draw at West Ham earlier this month have cost him a £45,000 fine from the English Football Association. Klopp had accepted an FA charge after he claimed Friend was affected by the decision to allow Sadio Mane’s 22nd-minute goal to stand despite it being offside. Klopp suggested Friend realised the mistake and tried to make up for it over the remainder of the game. An FA statement on Thursday said: “Jurgen Klopp has been fined £45,000 after accepting an FA charge for comments made following Liverpool’s league game against West Ham United on 4 February 2019. “His comments made during a post-match interview breached FA Rule E3(1), as they questioned the integrity of the match referee and/or implied bias.”

Source: The Irish Times February 21, 2019 16:46 UTC